SNAPSHOT SNAPSHOT BOTSWANA LESOTHO Fighting for access to information in Botswana reminding the Office of the President to fulfil its promises. Freedom of expression is enshrined in Chapter 12 of Botswana’s Constitution and on the surface the country seems to have a relatively free and diverse media environment. However, in practice Botswana’s past and current leaders have failed to recognise the importance of freedom of expression and access to information for all citizens. Unfortunately, to date, there has been no clear indication of any intention from Botswana’s ruling party to table the Bill, or indeed evidence that such a Bill has even been drafted. MISA Botswana experienced serious challenges rolling out its 2013 policy campaigns because the government banned all government employees from attending their events. Despite the setbacks, MISA Botswana continued to lobby for the adoption of a freedom of information law and hosted public discussions across the country in the first six months of 2013. The Botswanan Government had agreed to table a Freedom of Information Bill in February of 2013, but the Minister of Presidential Affairs, Mokgweetsi Masisi, failed to do so, stating it would be tabled during Parliamentary proceedings in July. However, during each session of Parliament, the Office of the President kept changing its deadline. MISA Botswana has issued repeated press releases Later in 2013, the media industry was shocked when President Seretse Khama Ian Khama used the State of the Nation Address to announce plans for the Data Protection Bill, instead of the Freedom of Information Bill. This legislation will clamp down on access to information and will not protect whistle blowers. World Press Freedom Day march, held by MISA Lesotho on 3 May 2014. Photo: MISA Lesotho images, 2014. Advocating for a national media policy For the past 14 years, MISA Lesotho has been advocating for the adoption of a media policy that facilitates media freedom and access to information and clarifies how other existing communications and media rules should be implemented. In 2004, for example, the Lesotho Communications Authority gazetted Broadcasting Rules, but the challenge has always been how to implement these rules. On 1 July 2013, the Lesotho government established the Broadcasting Dispute Resolution Panel in accordance with the Communications Act of 2012. The Panel’s mandate, among others, is to develop a broadcasting code to repeal the 2004 Broadcasting Rules. The draft code is undergoing a stakeholders’ consultation process and is likely to be gazetted by the end of the 2014/2015 fiscal year. While MISA Lesotho welcomes the establishment of this Panel, it is not enough. The Panel does not cover print media in any way and there is still much more to be done to ensure the media landscape in Lesotho is conducive to free expression and the ability to access information. Leostho will continue to advocate and lobby for the government to adopt this policy and pass the Receipt and Access to Information Bill of 2000. Advocating for passage of Access to Information Law Beginning January 2013, with assistance from the Open Society Initiative in Southern Africa (OSISA), MISA Lesotho began an intensive advocacy campaign on the passage of Access and Receipt of Information Bill of 2000. The advocacy comprised: of a multi-media public awareness campaign; meetings to sensitise strategic civil society organisations, higher learning institutions, political parties and relevant government of Lesotho ministers; a signature collection campaign; and a national seminar on access to information in Lesotho. The campaign will roll over to 2014 and it is expected that much pressure will have been put on the government to pass the Access and Receipt of information Bill of 2000. The draft media policy calls for the establishment of a media council and press ombudsman and MISA 36 37