02 Aug 2022

The Media Practitioners’ Association Bill, passed by Parliament last Thursday, is an important instrument towards improved consultative democracy, says Minister for State President, Mr Kabo Morwaeng.

Addressing a press conference in Gaborone, he said the bill was crafted through efforts of both government and the media fraternity.

It was indicative of the consultative nature of President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi’s administration which considered the media an integral part of  Botswana’s democratic culture, Mr Morwaeng said.He said having noted the press’ misgivings about the 2008 Media Practitioners’ Act,   government pledged to have it repealed and replaced with a law formulated after consultation with the media.

Minister Morwaeng said a draft was   subjected to stakeholder scrutiny through engagements with Editor’s Forum, Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Botswana Chapter and Botswana Media and Allied Workers Union (BOMAWU) as well as University of Botswana Media Studies Department.

It was then tabled before Parliament where it has been unanimously approved, said the minister.

Mr Morwaeng said once operational, the law would  give force to existing media professional bodies such as  MISA, Editors Forum and BOMAWU. 

“The professional media will be responsible for administering its affairs without the interference of government,” he said.

He stated that it was now upon the media fraternity to advise government of its readiness to commence on implementation of the legislation.“The media fraternity is encouraged to recruit the executive of the association, appoint board members as well as various committees and work on the code of ethics,” said Mr Morwaeng.

He said as part of promoting freedom of speech, information sharing, accountability and the rule of law, government was now working on an access to information bill.The law would be further fulfillment of government’s  pledge to improve consultative governance in addition to constitutional review consultations, promulgation of the Declaration of Assets and Liabilities Act and commencement of the Data Protection Act, he said.

BOMAWU president, Mr Philemon Mmeso said upon its establishment in 2015, the organisation took up the issue of the unwanted Media Practitioners’ Act with then vice president and now  President, Dr Masisi recommending its repeal  and replacement with legislation allowing self-regulation of the fourth estate.

He thanked government for fulfilling the promise made when Dr Masisi assumed office in 2018.

Mr Mmeso expressed pleasure that his organisation had an input in the crafting of the bill.

MISA Botswana director, Mr Tefo Phatshwane also expressed appreciation for his organisation’s involvement in the bill’s drafting.

 The end product gave the press the legal framework to operate in a better environment, he said.ENDS