reporter Rodrick Mukumbira, whose work and residence permits were valid until October 2007; the government again cited national security concerns. Meanwhile Mukumbira has had his appeal against withdrawal of residence permits turned down after he appealed to the Minister of Labour and Home Affairs. In a letter dated 3 August 2005 and signed by H Kebadumetse on behalf of the Chief Immigration Officer, it stated that, “I am directed to inform you that your appeal is unsuccessful. Also that you should leave the country as indicated on the Notification of cancellation of your residence permit served on you,” the letter reads in part. · ALERT Date: June 30, 2005 Persons/Institutions: Vanessa Chikuzunga, GabzFM Violation: Threatened, censored Vanessa Chikuzunga, production assistant for the Customer Watchdog programme, broadcast on Monday mornings on GabzFM radio station, was recently threatened in a shop in Gaborone. A security guard and a staff person escorted her to the manager’s office demanding that she hand over the notebook she was using to check prices and expiry dates. Chikuzunga told MISA Botswana she was at the shop to carry out her usual inspection of prices and check-up on cleanliness of stores when a security guard approached her and demanded she see the manager. Chikuzunga said she explained to the manager what she was doing in the shop and wondered why she was thought to pose a threat when she was simply doing her job. The manager demanded to know why she was writing down prices and told her that she was not welcome in the shop as it had the right of admission. He further threatened to withdraw advertising from GabzFM and sue Chikuzunga. In an interview with MISA Botswana, the shop manager defended his stance about the right of admission being reserved, saying he would welcome any one checking prices provided they sought permission from management to do so. He further refuted having threatened to sue Chikuzunga or withdraw advertising from the station. The shop manager later said Chikuzunga was asked to report to his office because “she looked suspicious.” · ALERT Date: April 14, 2005 Persons/Institutions: Media in Botswana Violation(s): Threatening legislation The Botswana government will retain the stringent apartheid-era National Security Act despite complaints from journalists that it limits media freedom. Presidential Affairs and Public Administration Minister Phandu Skelemani said that it would be unwise to repeal the law, introduced in 1986 at the height of apartheid South Africa’s aggression towards its independent neighbours. “The Act is seldom invoked, but has been preserved for use when expedient,” said Skelemani. MISA Botswana has asked the government for a public explanation of the reasons for retaining the act, which it has described as “draconian”. MISA Botswana said the act was introduced “under duress”, when Botswana had been a target for military raids against African National Congress activists - circumstances which no longer apply. The act stifles journalism, according to MISA Botswana. Among other provisions it forbids any person from publishing official information - however insignificant - without authorisation, and bars media reports on Botswana’s military strength and defence expenditure. Since its enactment it has been used to charge seven people, among them Australian Professor Kenneth Good, a University of Botswana political science lecturer who is currently fighting a So This Is Democracy? 2005 -48- Media Institute of Southern Africa