liamentary session. In November 2012, the minister promised MISA-Botswana that by February 2013, he would be in a position to share his draft with the National Assembly. As an important stakeholder, MISA-Botswana eagerly awaits the government draft. In another different but related development, the government of Botswana killed the Broadcasting Act of 1998 and came up with the Botswana Communications Regulatory Authority Act (BOCRA). BOCRA was subtly and stealthy sneaked into the Government Gazette in late 2011. In a broader sense, the Bill sought to de-regularise State broadcast media and repeal the provision for a three-tier system of broadcasting i.e. private, community and public service broadcasting. Foreseeing the shortcomings and pitfalls in the new Act, MISA-Botswana expressed its concerns and released numerous statements regarding the matter. However, the government of Botswana paid no attention. MISA-Botswana’s concerns were that while the country had been hailed and praised to have come up with an excellent Broadcasting Act in 1998, it was frustrating and backward for government to have somersaulted on agreed principles that underpinned the Broadcasting Act of 1998 and come up with the current provisions in BOCRA which effectively reversed the progressive gains as highlighted by the 1998 Act. Though MISA-Botswana had no problem with the merging of the Botswana Telecommunications Authority and the National Broadcasting Board into one body, it took exception to the exclusion of a three-tier system of broadcasting which in our view, is an over-arching arrangement the world over. MISA-Botswana is aware that issues of telecommunications will generally imply a greater role played by the minister, but was unhappy with the appointment of the Board and the Chief Executive Officer of the Authority by the minister. The Chapter was also not happy with the fact that state broadcasters would not be regulated. In short, MISA-Botswana is not happy with having two sets of rules, one for State broadcasters and the other for the private ones. 6R7KLVLV'HPRFUDF\" %RWVZDQD&RPPXQLFDWLRQV 5HJXODWRU\$XWKRULW\$FW %2&5$