Lesotho: Ambassador calls for equal access to state media

On 30 June 2010, United States Ambassador to Lesotho Robert Nolan, called on the government of Lesotho to give access to all stakeholders to state-controlled media.

Nolan made the call on the occasion of the celebration of the 234th anniversary of the independence of the United States of America.

 

 

“We look forward to continuing to hear the voices of all people and all political parties represented on the national television station, in print media, and on the radio,” he said in his prepared remarks.

 

Though Nolan’s speech was diplomatic in tone in seeking access for all voices in state controlled media, MISA Lesotho applauds this call by the US Embassy in Lesotho for greater diversity of voices presented in local media in the interest of deepening democratic practises.

 

In assessments that MISA Lesotho has carried out, it has emerged that the ruling Lesotho Congress for Democracy (LCD) received more broadcast airtime from the national television and radio broadcasters, sacrificing best practices as envisaged by the African Broadcasting Charter.

 

In the absence of the media policy, state media is still under direct control of the government, making them susceptible to political abuse. MISA Lesotho has long advocated for the repeal of laws and the transformation of state broadcasters into public service ones. The government has been dragging its feet in passing a media policy, a thorny issue in Lesotho over the past 12 years. /End///

 

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Reagan Malumo

Programme Specialist: Media Freedom Monitoring and Research

Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Regional Secretariat

21 Johann Albrecht St

Private Bag 13386

Windhoek

Namibia

Phone: +264 61 232 975

Fax: +264 61 248 016

Mobile: +264 81 311 2626

Official Email: reagan@misa.org

Private Email: reagan32002@yahoo.com

 

- June 6, 2010 by MISA

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Source: www.misa.org (received via email alert 06.07.10)