This year’s commemorations were graced by a number of civil society organizations who read solidarity messages. This was after MISA Botswana established a forum called COFEX-Coalition for freedom of Expression which is expected to rally civil society into action.
The main speaker was the Secretary General of United Congregational Churches of Southern Africa (UCCSA), Rev Prince Dibeela who is based in South Africa. He encouraged Botswana civil society to remain alert for their liberties and cautioned against passivity. Dibeela also decried the Big Brother state that Botswana has become and accused the leadership of plagiarizing Zimbabwe laws yet maintaining its Zimbabwe critique stance.
He lamented lack of consultation over many national matters, which he said reverses the democratic gains Botswana enjoyed over the years. He said civil liberties need to be protected, nurtured, and preserved for the coming generations. “We are increasingly creating a society that is over regulated.” He said this works against the spirit of the people on the ground. He said freedom of speech is our way of life. “I think we have been passive for far too long”, said the main speaker adding that people should be ready to be fined or be sent to prison in order to dismantle the hegemony of the ruling elite.
MISA Botswana chairperson Laona Segaetsho also presented the chapter’s statement in which he touched on several national issues such as a call for the Human Rights Commission for Botswana and the Freedom of Information Act. Segaetsho implored upon the Government to appreciate the media’s point of view against the act. He said Government risks losing its moral high ground if it insists on implementing the Media Practitioners Act.
Other messages came from the Editors Forum, Botswana National Front, Botswana Congress party, International Socialist Botswana, Tlhoko Tiro Organisation and Botswana Council of Non Governmental organizations.
Prior to the main activity MISA Botswana hosted a panel discussion on May 7, 2009 on the topic Media Practitioners Act: who is the target?. The panellists included Government spokeperson Jeff Ramsay, Botswana network on Ethics, Laws on HIV and AIDS represented by Diana Meswele, The University of Botswana academic Mike Mothobi and Lloyd Kuveya from South African Litigation Centre in South Africa.
The panel discussion was not without drama as Jeff Ramsay withdrew from the stage citing the fact that the media publishers have served the government with statutory notice to commence legal proceedings challenging the Act.
Rashweat Mukundu
Programme Specialist: Media Monitoring and Research
Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Regional Secretariat
Private Bag 13386
21 Johann Albrecht Street
Windhoek
Tel: +264 61 232975
Mobile: + 264 81 367 5362
www.misa.org
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