Botswana’s Minister of Communications, Science and Technology, Mrs Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi, says her ministry has put the idea of community radio stations on hold until the nation is ready for them. She told meetings at Mmashoro and Tshimoyapula last week that though the proposal was mooted with good intentions there were indications that it could cause more harm than good.
Mr Leposo Mosarwe of Tshimoyapula welcomed the Minister’s stance, arguing that he never supported the community radio stations, as he was fearful they would lead to hatred between tribes while another speaker said he found nothing wrong with the stations.
Mrs Venson-Moitoi said the issue was sensitive and should be carefully dealt with, explaining that they were problems of speaking against each other in countries where ethnic groups have their own radio stations that sometimes led to ethnic wars.
Responding to Mmashoro and Tshimoyapula residents’ complaint about poor radio signals, the Principal Broadcasting Engineer with the Department of Broadcasting Services, Mr Daniel Manyake explained that the installation of transmitters for Botswana Television and Radio Botswana will soon be completed at Mmashoro. He attributed delays to the installation to a contractor that was engaged by the Department of Building and Engineering Services to build a transmitter station but indicated that the house will soon be completed.
(Source: Botswana Press Agency)
