[From Mmegi Online and written by Ephraim Keoreng]

October 12, 2009 – Gaborone. Civil society leaders have said that in Botswana there is no freedom of expression. At the launch of the African Media Barometer (AMB) in Botswana booklet in Gaborone last Friday, the leaders said that people are not free to express themselves.

Botswana Council of Non-Government Organisations (BOCONGO) executive secretary, Reverend Mosweu Simane said that nowadays people are not free to critique government and its leadership. This he said, is borne out of fear that in workshops and conferences, people are afraid those close to the leadership will finger them, something which they say would bring retribution from those in power. He cited an incident in Francistown where they were discussing the National Development Plan 10, whereupon one presenter, who was on the floor presenting a point, which faulted government and all of a sudden “the man panicked, mumbled and later in his discussion changed his subject.   (more…)

From the BBC’s 60-Second Idea to Change the World:

” I would like everyone to write the following on postcards and send to governments around the world.

Freedom of expression and of thought was not invented by the West. It has existed in traditional societies — even primitive ones — for centuries. Human progress would not have been possible without it. I’m saying this as a black African from Ghana because today around the world, we have “educated” barbarians who want to suppress this freedom by arresting and jailing dissidents, writers, journalists and those they disagree with. In fact, the UN should expel those countries that do not respect Freedom of expression, which is Article 19 of the UN Human Rights charter.

When everyone has written this thought on postcards and sent them, they should also put them on POSTERS and hang them up in market places, in windows, on the sides of buildings everywhere. So that around the world will be the unmistakable visual reminder of the freedom everywhere.”

George Ayittey on the BBC, September 20, 2009

Listen to the audio of George Ayittey on the BBC

BBC 60 Second Idea to Improve the World