Speaker of the Lesotho National Assembly John Kolane has said that Parliament approved in February 1996 a motion “to encourage the local media [to] establish a press council.” Kolane said that Parliament believes the motion will “ensure that newspapers in the country adhere to journalism ethics.” The National Assembly passed the motion on 16 February […]
Speaker of the Lesotho National Assembly John Kolane has said
that Parliament approved in February 1996 a motion “to encourage
the local media [to] establish a press council.” Kolane said that
Parliament believes the motion will “ensure that newspapers in
the country adhere to journalism ethics.” The National Assembly
passed the motion on 16 February after the House observed that
articles in the print media were “replete with blatant untruths
whose main purpose is the sowing of discord and confusion among
their readers.” The approved motion was an amendment to a
proposed bill introduced by a parliamentarian which called for
“the urgent enactment of legislation that will put an end to the
lies…preoccupying some newspapers which spread untruths for the
sole purpose of boosting their sales.”
Kolane said that the motion is not intended to “gag” the press.
Rather, “[a]ll parliament needs is fair play and reporting by the
media.” He added that actual plans of “execution” have not been
put in place as yet, even though Parliament is soon to make the
motion into law.
He said that the media needed this law because “some newspapers
write disturbing stories and they need this umbrella body [the
press council] to guide them.” Kolane further said that the media
in Lesotho needed to “be given impetus” in observing journalism
principles. “The press has become so virulent in Lesotho such
that they write bad things about the prime minister and the
King,” he said. Kolane said that if the media in Lesotho reject
the motion and do not recognise it, “then there will be nothing
that can be done. We don’t want to license the press but we want
them [the media] to be responsible and to be mindful of
journalism principles.”
Recommended Action
Send appeals to authorities:
urging them to respect the independence of the media and media
organisations in Lesotho
the prerogative of media practitioners themselves
Appeals To
Rt. Hon. John Kolane
Speaker of the National Assembly
PO Box 190
Maseru 100
Lesotho
Tel: +266 3117056 or 323035
Fax: +266 310438
Rt. Hon. Pakane Khala
Minister of Information and Broadcasting
PO Box 552
Maseru 100
Lesotho
Tel: +266 323561
Fax: +266 310003
Please copy appeals to the originator if possible.
