17 August 2004
Alert
Ministry introduces stringent controls on broadcasts
(MISA/IFEX) - Botswana's Ministry of Communication, Science and Technology has ordered the Department of Broadcasting Services (DBS) to send new programmes or reviews of its programmes to the minister for "consultation and consensus." At present, the state media is still run as a government department and not as a public entity.
A ministry notice dated 3 August 2004 and signed by Deputy Permanent Secretary Lucky Moahi indicated that he was putting in place measures to "facilitate the smooth running of television and radio broadcast programmes."
The DBS was instructed to give five days notice of the participation of ministers, members of parliament or senior officials and other stakeholders in programmes, and not to issue announcements until confirmation was received that those persons invited to participate would attend.
Moahi expressed particular concern that some topics selected for discussion on radio phone-in programmes were sensitive and would therefore "require a government viewpoint." In such situations, the DBS would require clearance from the ministry before certain topics could be addressed on the air.
On occasions when the DBS negotiates television rights with stakeholders such as the Botswana Football Association, Moahi indicated that the ministry was to be kept informed in order to ensure that problems were tackled and resolved to what he termed "the right levels, in a timely and orderly manner."
In another development, while addressing a "kgotla" (traditional court) meeting in Gaborone on 12 August, Minister of Communication, Science and Technology Boyce Sebetela spoke about the operation of government media and said he had given the broadcaster six months to produce programmes in Setswana, the national language of Botswana, because there were "too many English programmes currently running."
Sebetela said the Broadcasting and Information Departments "should be guided like any other government department," and his ministry would "only interfere when things were not done the way [he] wanted them to be."
"As government media, we must know our stand in the eyes of the public and be sensitive to the needs of our customers," he explained.