even more publicity and advocacy. MISA Botswana has already shared the contents of the Charter with other stakeholders and has engaged some such as Editors during a breakfast meeting and those that attended the Community Broadcasting Workshop. MISA Botswana will also hold the government to the provisions of the charter and expect compliance from now onwards and beyond the life of the SPP. Two workshops attended by over 30 people were held on community broadcasting, one in Ghantsi, while another was in Gaborone. The participation was active and full of questions. There is general concern with the delay by the National Broadcasting Board to begin licensing for community radios. MISA Botswana has been requested to pursue their call on the speedy conclusion of the necessary legislation to be brought into law. One sees a dragging of feet by concerned government officials in bringing the acts into effect. Giving the electorate power has its own difficulties for those in power and with authority. MISA Botswana will push for the act to come into force in the 2004/5 programme year. Community broadcasting can become an empowering tool which MISA views as an effective advocacy medium. It will certainly be a viable tool for the majority of women who tend to be generally more affected by community issues than men. MISA Botswana is seeing a possibility of a gender movement that will be grassroots based supported by activities led by MISA Botswana and other local partners. MISA Botswana has also taken advantage of the UN’s Millennium Development Goals that the Botswana government, in partnership with UN, are discussing countrywide. As MISA, we have seen an opportunity to build a stronger voice calling for a Freedom of Information/Access to Information Act. This process will benefit from the WSIS discussions and process taking place in the country. 6.9.2 Lesotho The transformation of Radio Lesotho (RL) into a Public Service Broadcaster is a medium term goal that is under constant review in terms of the strategy that will be adjudged the most effective. The absence of IBA throws up important challenges to efforts to transform the sector. Although the country has a telecommunications authority the regulatory agency is still the Minister of Communications. Policy change to allow for the transformation of RL would naturally presuppose the existence of a policy environment that recognized the importance of less government interference. However, MISA Lesotho has not programmed an advocacy strategy that aims to alter the legal regulatory regime at this stage. Instead the chapter’s strategy is to target the government itself first through the Ministry Of Communications. 6.9.3 Malawi Though the airwaves have been liberalized, Malawi Communication Regulatory Authority (MACRA) is under government control. During the year under review, MACRA continued to threaten Community broadcasting stations which covered opposition parties. MACRA also forbids Community Radio Stations to broadcast news. It is regrettable to note that Malawi Institute of Journalism (MIJ) radio station run by students was closed down due to the fact that it used to broadcast news which was perceived anti-government. MISA Annual Report (April 2003 – March 2004) 61