Newspapers sue government over ads ban

The Botswana government is being sued over its decision to ban government advertising from two private newspapers critical of its policies, one of the newspapers reported on Tuesday. The ‘Guardian’ and the ‘Midweek Sun’ had lodged an urgent application in the High Court to have the bans overturned, the ‘Midweek Sun’ said. The case is to be heard on Thursday in the town of Lobatse, 70 km north of the capital Gaborone, the Associated Press reported.

The two papers have been overtly critical of the government, especially President Festus Mogae and Vice-President Ian Khama. Last month the ‘Guardian’ was leaked an anonymous letter that instructed government departments and allied private companies not to advertise in the two papers. No government minister has taken responsibility for issuing the instruction. However, Molosiwa Selepeng, the permanent secretary to Mogae, confirmed it had been put into effect, but said it was for economic considerations.