Botswana

(MISA/IFEX) – Popular Gabz FM radio presenter and MISA-Botswana Chairperson Solomon Monyame and Gabz FM management have been jointly sued for the sum of Botswana Pula 1.7 million (approx. US$279,330) in damages over announcements broadcast on the station’s breakfast show on 6 June 2002. On 6 June, Monyame announced between 6:45 and 6:55 a.m. (local […]

(MISA/IFEX) – On Saturday 19 May 2002, Stryker Motlaloso, news editor from the weekly newspaper “Mmegi”, was assaulted by opposition Botswana National Front (BNF) politician David Mhiemang at a political rally held at the Botswana Building Society Mall. In an interview with MISA-Botswana, Motlaloso said he had gone to cover the rally when Mhiemang approached […]

(MISA/IFEX) – Minister of Presidential Affairs and Public Administration Daniel Kwelagobe recently lambasted reporters from state-owned Botswana Television (BTV) for airing what he termed “insults” uttered by Neo Mothlabane, leader of the opposition Botswana People’s Party, at the “kgotla” (traditional court) in the town of Molepolole. The minister explained that the reporters should have edited […]

(MISA/IFEX) – On Monday 22 April 2002, thousands of Radio Botswana listeners were shocked to learn that the much-advertised “Live-Line” programme would not be aired. The popular talk show, which features discussions on topical issues, was called off only 30 minutes before its scheduled time. The station ran an apology instead, to the effect that […]

(MISA/IFEX) – On Friday 30 November 2001, the Botswana government published the contents of a draft Mass Media Communications Bill in the government gazette. According to MISA-Botswana, the draft is almost an exact match of another bill which the local media successfully crushed in 1997, aside from a number of omissions on broadcasting issues. MISA-Botswana […]

(IFJ/IFEX) – The following is an IFJ media release, followed by IFJ’s 2 December 2001 letter to Botswana President Festus Mogae: December 3rd, 2001 World Journalists Condemn Botswana Over “Dangerous” Draft Media Law The International Federation of Journalists today warned that government plans for a Press Council in Botswana with extensive powers to impose fines […]

(MISA/IFEX) – In what is regarded as a victory for media freedom and freedom of expression, during the week of 24 September 2001, the Botswana High Court declared a government ban on advertising in two newspapers unconstitutional. Justice IBK Lesetedi said the advertising ban by the Botswana government on the “Botswana Guardian” and “MidWeek Sun” […]

(MISA/IFEX) – On Monday 9 July 2001, the virulent legal battle between the “Botswana Guardian” and “Midweek Sun” and the Botswana government began with the papers’ attorneys scoring preliminary goals. Advocate Brian Spilg for the media house convinced Justice Isaac Lesetedi that the matter was urgent after a lengthy argument on questions posed by the […]

(MISA/IFEX) – On Thursday 14 June 2001, a lawsuit brought against the Botswana government for banning government advertising in two private newspapers critical of its policies was postponed until 25 June. According to a report by the South African Press Association (SAPA), “The Guardian” and the “Midweek Sun” lodged an urgent application in the High […]

(MISA/IFEX) – The government is being sued over its decision to ban government advertising in two private newspapers that are critical of its policies, one of the newspapers reported on Tuesday 12 June 2001. According to reports by the Integrated Regional Information Network (IRIN), “The Guardian” and the “Midweek Sun” lodged an urgent application in […]

(MISA/IFEX) – After several misses, on 31 July 2000, Botswana’s first ever state-owned television went on air amidst pomp and pageantry in Gaborone, reports the PANA news agency. The station started its inaugural broadcast with a news bulletin in Setswana, followed by a short studio interview with the acting minister for presidential affairs and public […]

(MISA/IFEX) – On 20 June 2000, four journalists were briefly detained by Botswana police while covering activities marking Africa Refugee Day at the Dukwi refugee camp. However, Botswana authorities denied the allegation. South African journalist Diale Kgantsi, who reports for the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), confirmed to MISA that he, camera operator Pat Pule, […]

(MISA/IFEX) – On 26 May 1999, Botswana’s deputy attorney general, Abedenego Batshani Tafa, declined to proceed with a threatened injunction against “Mmegi” newspaper following assurances from the paper that he was not being mentioned in the latest edition. On 25 May, Tafa threatened to bring an injunction against the paper after apparently being privy to […]

(MISA/IFEX) – The first-ever independent radio station license issued in Botswana has been granted to Yarona FM, reports the South African Press Association (SAPA) news agency. The move has broken a thirty-three-year government monopoly on broadcasting in Botswana. Yarona FM will broadcast within a 40 km radius of the capital, Gaborone. General Manager Moraki Mokgasana […]

(MISA/IFEX) – On 13 March 1999, two Namibian journalists were detained by Botswana police at the Dukwe refugee camp near Francis Town, according to the “New Era” newspaper reports. A Botswana police spokesperson said the journalists, “New Era” editor Raja Munamava, and a reporter for the Namibian Press Agency (NAMPA), Peter Hashipala, were arrested for […]

(MISA/IFEX) – On February 23 1999, journalist Caitlin Davies was acquitted on charges of contempt of court after being summoned to appear in court because of an article she had written about an on-going court case. However, the journalist’s source for the article, lawyer Maame Baffour-Awuah, was sentenced to seven days in jail, but spent […]