F or the quality of democracy in Botswana to be enhanced, effective legal and policy frameworks are necessary to enable the media to perform responsibly and adequately. This can only be achieved when there is an enabling media environment. Some commendable efforts have been made in this regard, with the Information and Technology Bill and the Draft Mass Media Communications Bill. However, certain negative developments threaten the fundamental and constitutional right to freedom of speech. These include the controversial deportation of Professor Kenneth Good from the University of Botswana and two media workers. A move by government to produce its own newspaper, the Daily News, also threatens to hobble the fledgling private media and printing industry. Media workers must unite to confront these challenges. Media-government relationship In late 2005, the government disclosed its intention to purchase a printer for the production of its Daily News, an English-Setswana newspaper currently printed by Mmegi. On the one hand, the competition between the Daily News and the private media is unfair as the production and distribution of this government newspaper are funded by the taxpayer, while on the other hand Daily News advertising space is relatively cheap and the newspaper is circulated nationally, free of charge. The independent Mokgosi newspaper, a short-lived private Setswana broadsheet, was forced to close at the end of 2005, primarily due to the hefty competition inflicted by the Daily News. When the government’s decision to produce the Daily News was discussed in parliament, some MPs lobbied for more support for the infant private media. However, the government is unlikely to be dissuaded from proceeding with this potentially stifling decision. The attitude among sectors of the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) that the private media is hostile towards their party and that the BDP should consider producing its own newspaper appears to be linked to this decision. This viewpoint gives the impression that the ruling party is justified in producing the Daily News because the private media supports the opposition. Such reasoning is erroneous and malicious, especially since many Batswana may not understand the valuable role of the private media. Unfortunately, it was noted that statements issued on World Press Freedom Day 2005 by the president of the Botswana Confederation of Commerce, Industry and Manpower, Iqbal Ibrahim, were viewed as being critical of the media for its “negative attitudes”, which he felt could deter foreign investment. The Ministry of Communications, Science and Technology (MCST) has buttressed this criticism and urged the media to highlight Botswana’s positive developments. MISA Botswana also links to such attitudes the expulsion of University of Botswana’s Professor Kenneth Good, who worked in the country for over 15 years, Ngami Times journalist Rodrick Mukumbira and Charles Chirinda, a Maun-based commentator for Botswana Television. Although we acknowledge powers invested in the presidency, the issue of deportation is sensitive and we are concerned that President Festus Mogae has not yet offered reasons for it. Legislative and policy initiatives A taskforce, comprising representatives of the Press Council of Botswana, MISA, the Editors’ Forum and the government, mandated by the Media Advisory Council (MAC), has produced the principles for the Draft Mass Media Communications Bill. The bill seeks to provide for the registration of newspapers and periodicals; recognise the Press Council, which will act as a So This Is Democracy? 2005 -38- Media Institute of Southern Africa