SECTOR 1

1.5 Print publications are not required to obtain permission to publish from state authorities.
The process of registration depends on the way the company is set up and the
manner in which the newspaper is registered.
A media practitioner who was planning to start up a new publication went
through the process of registering a company upon which she received a
Memorandum of Association, that was handed to the Ministry of Trade and
Industry for a trading licence. This was taken to the Law Office and the final step
was registering with the Post Office. This was because she was registering her
newspaper under a holding company.
The simpler way to publish a newspaper is to go to the Post Office with a copy
and register it. The registration of publications is very straightforward and the
process takes less than a day and only costs 200 Maloti (US$23).

Scores:
Individual scores:
1

Country does not meet indicator

2

Country meets only a few aspects of indicator

3

Country meets some aspects of indicator

4

Country meets most aspects of indicator

5

Country meets all aspects of the indicator

Average score:

3.5 (2010 = 3.4; 2008 = n/a; 2006 = n/a)

1.6 Entry into and practice of the journalistic profession is not restricted by law.
Journalists are not required to register and many of them do not do so. Most
journalists who choose to obtain press cards, do so because it is easier to gain
access to official events such as visits by regional and international leaders or State
functions.
For this registration, journalists are required to go to the police station and pay a
fee of 200 Maloti (US$23) and obtain clearance. With this clearance, journalists
then go to the Ministry of Information and get a press card. This is a mere formality
and not a legal requirement.

AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER LESOTHO 2012

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