SECTOR 2 stories. As a result, there are fewer women sources in the country’s media. “The content in the media is partly a reflection of what society is going through, and currently there is a drop in prominence of women in society.” “The content in the media is partly a reflection of what society is going through... a drop in prominence of women in society.” A 2009 Gender Links publication entitled At the Coal Face: Gender and Local Government in Botswana states that women who pursue careers in politics are “often labelled and called names”. The publication also notes that prior to the 2004 elections, the media was “partly responsible for women’s apathy towards aspiring to political office” as the media did not highlight the achievements of women politicians as much as those of their male counterparts and tended to treat women politicians as objects rather than political protagonists. The number of women in senior management and decision-making positions (ie possible sources for stories) in Botswana is also very low, and has apparently dropped in recent years. Five women in senior government positions, who were considered extremely competent have resigned, been sidelined or demoted in recent years. Many of them (see below) were connected to the Botswana Media Women’s Association (BOMWA). · · · · · Banyana Segwe, deputy chair of BOMWA, was General Manager of BTV (which overseas Radio Botswana 1 and 2, and BTV) before she retired from civil service in December 2008. There is speculation that she was not on good terms with the Minister of Communications, Science and Technolgy, Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi. Sholo Phethu was appointed acting manager of BTV, and in 2007 was moved to the Department of Sports and Culture. It is not clear what her role is at the Department. Shortly before her move, she resigned as head of BOMWA. In April 2009, another BOMWA executive member, an active member of the Botswana Editor’s Forum, and a vocal activist for press freedom, Felicitus Mashungwa, was moved from head of Radio Botswana to an obscure position at the Ministry of Education. In the same month, another BOMWA member, Montlenyane Baaitse, was transferred from her position as BTV News Editor to a position in the Ministry of Trade and Industry. In 2008, Monica Mphusu, Deputy Director of Broadcasting, was transferred to a new department - Government Information and Communication Service. AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER BOTSWANA 2009 35