07 Feb 2013

Responsibility for the effective implementation of the Media Practitioners Act resides with an independent media council, Parliament has been told.

The Minister for Presidential Affairs and Public Administration, Mr Mokgweetsi Masisi said the council consisted of all publishers of news and information to be managed by an executive committee to be elected by the council’s membership. “In this context, it is our view that the act has not been fully implemented,” he said.

Mr Masisi said the council currently had an interim executive committee to manage its affairs. He said the council also managed the complaints committee and appeals committee who were to adjudicate complaints received from the public. He noted that membership of the appeals committee was vacant.

Gaborone Central MP, Mr Dumelang Saleshando had asked the minister whether the Media Practitioners Act was being fully implemented. He also asked the minister to state the status of the structures provided for the act. ENDS