& çâÌæÚUæð´ ·¤è ¥ôÚU Îð¹Ùæ ÁæÚUè ÚU¹ð´ ¥ÍæüÌ ¥ÂÙð ÜÿØ ÂÚU ŠØæÙ ÚU¹ð´Ð ãæÚU Ù ×æÙð´, €UØô´ç·¤ ·¤æ× ·¤ÚUÙð âð ¥æÂ·¤ô ©gðàØ ·¤è Âýæç# ãôÌè ãñ ¥õÚU ÁèßÙ ·¤æ ¹æÜèÂÙ ÎêÚU ãôÌæ ãñÐ ÖÜð ãè ÁèßÙ ×ð´ ç·¤ÌÙè Öè ·¤çÆÙæ§ü €UØô´ Ù ¥æ°, çÁ™ææâæ ¥õÚU ©ˆâæã ÕÙæ° ÚU¹ð´Ð ŠØæÙ ÚU¹ð´, ÜÿØ ã×ðàææ ¥æÂ·Ô¤ Âæâ ãôÌð ãñ´ çÁ‹ãð´ ÂæÙð ·Ô¤ çÜ° ÂýØæâ ¥æÂ ·¤Öè Öè àæéM¤ ·¤ÚU â·¤Ìð ãñ´Ð

Botswana Tries to Put the Screws on its Free Press

by Marx Garekwe writes from Gaborone
IN Botswana harassment of Journalists comes tn many forms. Systematic gagging of journalists, coupled with state pressure on the Independent press makes a mockery of the government claim that press freedom is alive and well.
Journalists in what is held up as a model of African democracy arc increasingly vocal In criticising the government. Though only 10 years old. the private press has started hitting the government where it hurts.
In reaction, the government Is already contemplating devis Ing new and more stringent legislation to control the media or even muzzle them.
The National Security Act of .1986. which authorises the government to arrest or detain anyone at will has affected many journalists.
In these circumstances, the lively private media have a difficult time practicing their profession freely. By exposing government corruption and political patronage in high places, newspapers like the Botswana Guardian and The Reporter have put themselves at loggerheads with authority.
The government, tn power since independence 25 years ago, is not used to an Independent, critical press despite Its claim to be the custodian of the free press in Africa. Since the Inception of privately
owned newspapers In 1982 at least six Journalists have been expelled for outspoken reporting.
Most recently, in January, police arrested a Journalist for publishing the contents of a supposedly secret document. The story, written last year, was about striking industrial workers demanding a 154 per cent raise In minimum wages.
He was arrested after the police searched the offices of Mmcgl (The Reporter) newspaper and left with the so-called "secret document
However, the same document was read tn Parliament by the Minister for Presidential Affairs and Public Administration explaining why the government could not meet the rise. The contents of
the document were later published by the state-owned Botswana Daily News.
The goverumen! was angry al the exposure of corruption rather than by corruption itself Instead of investigating Irregularities by civil servants the authorities were so furious with the private media that the police were told to "question-Journalists who had covered ihc story. -
The Minister for Presidential affairs and Public Administration and the deputy director or DIBS. Samuel Moribame. both lashed out at the private press and Journalists. They said if journalists wanted to be critical of government officers and ministers they should leave Botswana
This shows how Intolerant the government is towards Journalists who deviate from the Image-building of the government media.
The last Journalist expelled from Botswana was Samu Sulu, an Internationally respected Zambian Journalist. Sulu fled to Botswana after being mistreated by the government of Kenneth Kaunda for writing
critically about his regime. Ironically, Sulu was expelled from Botswana for writing articles considered too harsh on Kaunda and his government. The Kaunda government has now been voted out of power.
Government Journalists be longing to the Botswana Journalists Association (BOJA) are muzzled by the government. They arc not allowed to endorse any association resolution interpreted by the government as being critical or against the state.
Last year top officials reprimanded a government Jour-
nalist endorsing a strongly-worded letter addressed to the Minister of Presidential affairs and Public Administration. The letter was attacking the government for harassing Journalists. especially private ones.
Some government-trained journalists are transferred^) insignificant posts if they do not subscribe to the ruling party or are thought to be critical of government policies Botswana has been a peaceful democratic country in a region characterised by civil strife and liberation wars. Yet the government does not seem to realise that meaningful democracy Is unattainable without a free and. vigilant media. Recent actions against the media do not bode well for the future of free expression here.
— GEMINI NEWS
MARX GAREKWE Is a freelance journalist in Botswana.