Press wins first round

Botswana’s reputation for press freedom was dented last week by evidence that emerged in a court action taken by an independent newspaper group seeking to end a government advertising boycott. ‘The Star’ newspaper in Johannesburg reported on Monday that the evidence included an account by Chris Bishop, former editor of news and current affairs at Botswana Television (Btv), on how he resigned because of government interference in broadcasting news.

A Botswana government advertising ban was slapped on Gaborone’s ‘Guardian’ and ‘Midweek Sun’ newspapers in May after they angered Ian Khama, the vice-president, by reporting the ombudsman’s finding that he had made unauthorised use of military aircraft. The ban was accompanied by a news blackout and a ban on the purchase of the publications by any government, quasi-government or parastatal body.

Lawyer Brian Spilg, who represented the newspapers, argued in the Lobatse High Court that the government action was intended to stifle the media. This amounted to a challenge to the freedom of information in Botswana. Bishop’s affidavit before the court alleged that Khama interfered directly in the broadcast of news in Botswana. Bishop said a documentary on condemned South African murderess Marietta Bosch was stopped by Khama from being aired on the national television station, the report said. The case was postponed to 17 August.