(MISA/IFEX) – On 17 August 2004, Minister of Land and Housing Margaret Nasha instructed the producers of “The Eye” programme to re-record a segment of the show in order to exclude opposition party member Dumelang Saleshando, who is seeking election as a member of parliament. Saleshando is a member of the Botswana Congress Party. In […]
(MISA/IFEX) – On 17 August 2004, Minister of Land and Housing Margaret Nasha instructed the producers of “The Eye” programme to re-record a segment of the show in order to exclude opposition party member Dumelang Saleshando, who is seeking election as a member of parliament. Saleshando is a member of the Botswana Congress Party.
In an interview with MISA-Botswana, Saleshando said he, Nasha, who belongs to the ruling party, and Robert Molefhabangwe, of the Botswana National Front, were interviewed on 16 August for a “The Eye” show that was to be aired on Botswana Television (BTV) the following day. After the interview, Saleshando said the minister stayed behind at the studio. She then allegedly gave instructions for the programme to be re-recorded, saying that Saleshando was “too political in his deliberations”.
Saleshando confirmed that he received a call from one of the producers who said that the programme had been re-recorded featuring only Molefhabangwe and Nasha. He said he was surprised that he was not invited and that the programme was aired on 17 August without his views.
“I felt abused because I took time to prepare for the programme and I strongly feel this is a denial of freedom of expression,” he said.
He said that Nasha felt threatened by the comments he made regarding the Lesetedi Commission Report, a report of the judicial commission of inquiry into state land allocation in the capital, Gaborone, and that this was why she was uncomfortable with the broadcast of the programme. Saleshando is reportedly contesting the same seat as Nasha in central Gaborone.
MISA-Botswana Chairperson Amilia Malebane-Lopez said citizens should be informed and given the opportunity to hear how those they want to vote for, or are considering voting for, handle land issues in Botswana. Lopez said this case needs to be pursued further to understand why Saleshando was denied a voice during a critical election period.
