STATE OF PRESS FREEDOM IN SOUTHERN AFRICA REPORT 2021 30 BOTSWANA QUIETLY, BOTSWANA INCREASINGLY BECOMING HOSTILE peaceful and stable countries in Africa, Botswana came under the spotlight for the wrong reasons following repeated cases of harassment of journalists and snooping on private communications for citizens. LEGAL AND REGULATORY FRAMEWORK Botswana has four laws that regulate the media and when invoked by the State, they override constitutionally guaranteed freedoms by giving discretionary powers to government officials and impose harsh fines on those who breach the laws. (1) By Queen Mosarwe INTRODUCTION B OTSWANA emerged as an area of concern during the period under review due to the government’s desire to introduce draconian laws and also to use controversial statutes to harass journalists. Considered one of the most The laws accommodated under section 12 (2) of the Constitution, permit restrictions on the exercise of freedom in areas of defence, public security, public order, public morality, and public health. Section 44 of the Directorate of Corruption and Economic Crime Act, for instance, prevents journalists from reporting on cases under investigation until such a matter reaches the courts or investigations are concluded. On the other hand, the National Security Act (1986) regulates anything that might threaten the security of the country. Several calls have been made for the government to repeal the Media Practitioners Act 2008 (MPA), which has been labeled draconian. The opposition has, on several occasions, sought the repeal of MPA through Parliament, but the motions have been blocked by the ruling Democratic Party through several votes. Source: Dr Mokgweetsi E.K Masisi official twi�er page (2019) (8)