Botswana: Opposition slams Khama’s use of state media

President Ian Khama (pictured) last Friday released a statement which was read by Director of Broadcasting Services, Mogomotsi Kaboeamodimo about the current strife within the Botswana Democratic Party. The lunch-time presentation consisted of Khama explaining his suspension of Party secretary general Gomolemo Motswaledi.

With an eye on the forthcoming general elections, opposition parties have once again slammed Khama for “abuse of government media”. They called on Khama not to use government journalists to make BDP announcements.

“It is unacceptable,” charged Botswana Congress Party (BCP) publicity secretary, Dumelang Saleshando. He said: “You can not use civil servants to promote your party propaganda”. The BCP official said what Khama had done “is abuse of state media”.

He also accused Kaboeamodimo of performing the duties of BDP executive secretary, Dr Batlang Serema. “Kaboeamodimo has effectively taken over from Serema; he has turned himself into a BDP spokesman,” he charged.

“If our (BCP) president wants to address our members, can he give that statement to Kaboeamodimo? He can’t,” said Saleshando.

He contended that Khama’s statement was not addressing the nation but BDP members because it was about a BDP matter.

Saleshando said both Btv and Radio Botswana were in contradiction of the guidelines that were issued by the National Broadcasting Board (NBB). The NBB guidelines say there should not be any political broadcasts until after the writ of elections has been issued.

Saleshando insists that Kaboeamodimo knows about the practices and acceptable conduct.

But he expressed concern that Kaboeamodimo is using the taxpayer’s money to address BDP matters.

The spokesman of the Botswana National Front (BNF), Moeti Mohwasa echoed similar sentiments. He said Khama should differentiate between state and BDP resources.

“They are using a government director to disseminate party issues.

This is what happened in Zimbabwe,” he said. In Zimbabwe, he said, there was what he terms ‘zanufication’ of the government. Everything in the state media was about ZANU(PF).

He argued that in as much as the BDP has the right to disseminate information, it should be subjected to the procedures like other parties.

Mohwasa said if it was the BNF, a party official could have issued the statement. He said the other side could also have been contacted.

As it is, he said, Khama’s statement was unbalanced. “It was unfair to give an unbalanced side,” said Mohwasa. Kaboeamodimo was not available for comment at the time of going to press. as he was said to be attending the senior government officials conference at Ditshupo Hall.

Mmegi Online