Press welcome at Cabinet meeting with Kweneng District Council

source: Republic of Botswana (4/7/10) TAUTONA TIMES no 10 of 2010
The Electronic Press Circular of the Office of the President
"Democracy, Development, Dignity, Discipline and Delivery"


C6) Reproduced from TT 9 of 2010: OP Media Advisories confirming that both the private and public press would be allowed equitable opportunities to cover Cabinet’s meetings with the Gaborone City and Kweneng District Councils.

C6a) 28/6/10: Press welcome at Cabinet meeting with Kweneng District Council.

This Office wishes to once more confirm that, as was the case with respect to last Thursday’s meeting at the Gaborone City Council, members of both the public and private media will be welcome to cover the opening statements at the consultative meeting between Cabinet and the Kweneng District Council, which is scheduled to be held at the Council Chambers in Molepolole tomorrow (Tuesday 29/6/10) morning.

After the opening statements it is further anticipated that the meeting will go into closed session.

Further to the above this Office has received the following statement, which is being aired on Radio Botswana in which Kweneng District Council Secretary, Mr. Mpedi Koontse, further confirms that, contrary to some press reports, both government and private media will be allowed to cover the opening, which will be addressed by H.E. the President.

[START] Statement by Mr. Koontse as reported on Radio Botswana

Kweneng District Council Secretary, Mpedi Koontse says both government and private media will be allowed to cover the opening of the Kweneng council meeting to be addressed by the President Lieutenant General Seretse Khama Ian Khama tomorrow.

Koontse told Radio Botswana news in an interview that contrary to reports that only government media will be allowed, the private press will not be excluded.

There have been reports that the private press was not allowed to cover full council meetings addressed by the president but Mr Koontse said that after further consultations it had now been clarified that all media houses will cover the event.

Last week, Kweneng District Council Chairman Motlhophi Leo, announced at the beginning of the full council meeting that the council will be hosting President Lieutenant General Seretse Khama Ian Khama and his cabinet.

The meeting which the council chairman described as historic will be held tomorrow at Kweneng District Council Chambers.

President Khama has already held such consultative meetings with the Francistown and Gaborone Councils.

C6b) 16/6/10: All Media Welcome at GCC-Cabinet Consultation opening; OP Denies ever issuing instruction to bar media from next week's event

In reaction to 1300 p.m. news item of broadcast on a local radio station today the Deputy Senior Private Secretary to the President & Press Liaison Officer to H.E. the President, Mr. Sipho Madisa, has strongly denied that the Office of the President had ever issued instructions for the private press to be barred from covering the upcoming meeting that will involve Cabinet and Gaborone City Council Councillors, scheduled for 24 June 2010. In a communication to the radio station, Mr. Madisa observed that:

1. No such instruction has been issued to the Gaborone City Council from the Office of the President to the said effect; and

2. In actual fact, both members of the private press as well as public press are hereby invited and encouraged to attend the opening of the meeting which will include opening remarks as well as photo opportunities.

The meeting is expected to start promptly at 0900hrs at the Gaborone City Council Civic Hall.