23 Aug 2020

Legislators on Thursday continued debate on the media practitioners motion that was tabled before the National Assembly by Selebi Phikwe West MP, Mr Dithapelo Keorapetse recently.

The motion seeks to repeal the Media Practitioners Act which was passed by Parliament in 2008, but was never implemented mainly because key stakeholders whose  participation was mandatory refused to participate in it.

When the debate on the motion resumed, Francistown South MP, Mr Wynter Mmolotsi supported it, stating that as the Alliance for Progressives, they believed that media freedom and freedom of expression were foundational and facilitative rights that should be protected and entrenched in the Constitution.

“That is the reason why we tabled before this Parliament a motion, through  Dr Phenyo Butale, in 2015, calling for the media practitioners Act to be repealed. It is shocking that almost five years later the government is still giving the same reasons it gave in 2015 for rejecting Dr Butale’s motion,” he said.

Mr Mmolotsi said it was disappointing that the minister was still in the process of consulting, while the fact of the matter was that the position of the media fraternity had not changed since 2008.

Furthermore, he said the President, Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi promised to repeal all media unfriendly laws, and had specifically mentioned the Media Practitioners Act, which he said should  do away without fail.

Lobatse MP, Dr Thapelo Matsheka said the law would be repealed in future, but noted that it could not be repealed without any available instrument in place to be used.

Dr Matsheka said Parliament hindered by lack of consultation on the act because there was under estimation of the task at hand.

He also said media was an important stakeholder on issues of governance, but noted that the professional should be regulated.

Furthermore, Dr Matsheka said in the absence of implementation of the act, there was Press Council which was holding fort on issues of regulation and said self-regulation could not be done in a vacuum.

Ngami MP, Mr Carter Hikuama said it was crucial that the act be repealed because it was not operational, while MP for Bobonong, Mr Taolo Lucas emphasised that since all parties agreed that the law was not operational, it should be repealed rather than to disagree on the basis that the idea came from an opposition member.

MP for Francistown East, Mr Buti Billy said consultation was vital and was the cornerstone of democracy and good governance.

Therefore, he said the motion came at a time when consultations were in the process, hence it was irrelevant at this stage.

The debate on the motion continues. ENDS