· ALERT Date: October 28, 2005 Persons/Institutions: Private media in Botswana Violation: Victory Presidential spokesman, Dr. Jeff Ramsay has denied suggestions that government is planning to stop advertising in private newspapers. Speaking to Mmegi newspaper, he said that there is a distinction between government and the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) therefore, the latter cannot influence the former in making decisions. He said the matter at hand is different from the 2001 Botswana Guardian/Midweek Sun issue, which was decided by the High Court. In 2001, government banned advertising in the newspapers because it felt they were attacking President Festus Mogae and his vice Lt Gen Ian Khama. The High Court later declared the advertising ban unconstitutional. The uncertainty over the looming ban on adverts in the private press follows a lead story two weeks back in which Mmegi endorsed Botswana National Front (BNF) candidate, Otsweletse Moupo for the Gaborone West North Constituency. Moupo won the election and BDP blamed their candidate’s loss on the press, particularly Mmegi. Some BDP bigwigs were quoted as saying that Mmegi would regret the story as they would stop buying and advertising in the paper. But Ramsay’s remarks that government and BDP are two different bodies raise more questions than answers. Editor of Midweek Sun Mpho Dibeela said it would be unfortunate for government to ban advertising in the private press as a way of punishment. He said newspapers are struggling and the ban would make the situation worse. He also cited the 2001 Guardian/Midweek Sun case as an example of government’s endless war with the press. · ALERT Date: October 17, 2005 Persons/Institutions: Onalenna Sekgwa Violation: Beaten Photo-journalist from “Monitor” newspaper Onalenna Sekgwa was assaulted recently by a suspect in a bank armed robbery case for ‘taking pictures without consent’ during an on going case at Village Magistrate court in Gaborone. “Monitor” dated 17 October, 2005 reports that Elizabeth Surtee slapped Sekgwa heavily on his head when he tried to take a photo of her. Surtee was not impressed when she saw Sekgwa taking pictures and she asked that he should not to so. When contacted by MISA Botswana, Sekgwa said he was not hurt from the ordeal and that that incident would not deter him from doing his job. Monitor Editor Gideon Nkala said assaulting journalists in line of duty was setting a bad precedent for media fraternity as this threatens the freedom of expression. · ALERT Date: October 14, 2005 Persons/Institutions: Otsweletse Moupo (Botswana National Front), Citizens of Botswana Violation: Censored For a second time on October 14, 2005, Botswana Television cancelled the Matlho-a-Phage programme where Gaborone West North by-elections contestants were scheduled to have their last debate before the elections scheduled for Saturday, October 15, 2005. The by-election is contested by Otsweletse Moupo of the Botswana National Front (BNF) and Robert Masitara of the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP). The cancellation of the programme which was supposed to be aired on October 14, 2005, So This Is Democracy? 2005 -45- Media Institute of Southern Africa