Botswana's government has poured cold water on claims from ZANU PF that it is hosting so-called 'pirate radio' stations from its territory. Presidential spokesman Dr Jeff Ramsey issued a statement noting 'the re-appearance of allegations in a section of the Zimbabwe media' but said Botswana did not 'harbour any such radio stations.'
Ramsey said Voice of America's Studio 7 was produced in Washington and 'is only relayed from VOA facilities in Botswana, a fact which has, moreover, been acknowledged by the Government of Zimbabwe in the past. It can thus not be properly characterized as a radio station.' Ramsey said there was nothing exceptional about this as for example the BBC had some 60 radio broadcast relays across Africa, 'a third of which are located in the SADC member states.'
The statement also went on the explain how other broadcasters like Radio France International, Radio Netherlands and Radio Deutsche Welle (Germany) are among the other international broadcasters known to have relay facilities in the region. Ramsey also said 'the VOA relay station, located near Selebi-Phikwe, has been in open operation for three decades. Its frequencies are filed with the International Telecommunications Union.'
With ZANU PF saying they would lodge a complaint to SADC over the broadcasts Ramsey blew a hole in that argument by stating the obvious; 'The VOA relay transmitter was not constructed to relay to Zimbabwe alone, but to the region as a whole, including of course Botswana,' he explained.
Ramsey also explained that 'the hosting of international relays is consistent with the principle embedded in the SADC Protocol on Information, Culture and Sports which provides for a diversity of opinion and free flow of information in the region.' An SW Radio Africa listener recently wrote in to question why ZANU PF would want external radio stations shut down when they did not allow internal ones to operate. 'You close the external radio stations by allowing the internal ones to operate,' he argued.
Unfortunately, for reasons that remain unclear, the MDC signed off on a unity government agreement which included the closure of external radio stations - knowing full well that they had no power over these broadcasts.
Comments 1 to 4 of 4 Post a comment
That is exactly what Zimbabwe is talking about; harboring VOA relayed facilities in Botswana" which facilities are being used to relay churned out hate speeches which in turn are polarizing our people. Why is Botswana knowingly allowing this facility to be used to stir up emotions and to cause divisions among Zimbabweans? Is it in the interest of Botswana that Zimbabweans should continue fighting each other because of the propaganda churned out through the relay station they are hosting?
Has Botswana ever asked itself why America, wherever it goes especially to wage illegal wars, bombs radio stations that do not support its stance. In Iraq, an Al Jazeera station was reduced to rubbles. In Kosovo the TV and radio stations were destroyed and innocent lives were lost. In Vietnam, the same thing happened.
However, is it not true that these stations had been in existence for decades, thus, had not been established to broadcasting against the war but had been in existence and broadcasting throughout the world? It should be realized that the moment their reports hurt or attack the very interests of the imperialist country (USA) they are bombed. Why has the Junta, led by the homo Khama, in Botswana not ask themselves why this is so?
What Botswana does not realize is that one day and only one day, tables will turn and it will be its turn to defend its territorial integrity, its sovereignty, its independence and its democracy. Madagascar never thought that it would need other countries in the region to help it out of its quagmire and yet, like Botswana, it is hosting a hostile relay station beaming Zimbabwe. Botswana should not say it was never warned. If God allows us to revenge we will look the other way while your country is burning.
What you are doing, Mr Jeff Ramsey and your gay president, is wrong and will NEVER be right simply because it started a long time ago. We have always complained of this station because we knew it was going to come to this. We also have complained about the American military base in your country because we know that one day that facility will be used against us or any other SADC country. We have further complained and will continue to complain about the training of bandits to start and insurgency war in our country or in any other SADC country for that matter.
The moment a facility is used for subversive purposes against neighboring countries, it should be dismantled. In fact it should not have been accepted in the first place. Is it proper for Botswana territory to be used in this manner? The fact that Khama hate President Mugabe because of obvious reasons (Khama is worse than a pig or a dog) is not important. What is important is to look at whether the hosting of such a facility is good for the long term interests of SADC and good neighborliness. If it is good as far as Botswana is concerned, well and good; fair and fine, we will remind Botswana when tables turn.
Imperialists do not have permanent friends or enemies but only permanent interests!! Food for thought, Botswana!!!
PARROT STATIONS LIKE ZBC, PARROT NEWSPAPERS LIKE THE HERALD AND PARROT COMMENTATORS LIKE TUKUNYA NDEBVU ARE GOOD FOR ZANU PF NOT FOR ZIMBABWEANS.
Everyone picks on us, imperialism, white peole, so unfair, don't complain about our beloved military dictator blah blah blah.
We've heard it all before. You're just angry that, thanks to pirate radio stations, ZANU-PF only has control over 99% of information. Real democracies don't fear someone being able to speak out against the government. But Mugabe's regime has brought so much ruin that it takes barely a whisper to remind people.
Mugabe and his herd of donkeys think they own Zimbabwe and can do whatever they want on other people but expect the rest of the world to remain silent. Not so today. There are always people aware and looking out for the underdog whilst leashing and reigning in the rabid dog. Just recently in Masvingo, a 62 year old man was arrested and faces charges just for publicly saying that Mugabe has failed and must go and that the many white owned farms that were given to veterans and Zanu-PF were a failure with the land growing grass and leaving the meager crops to compete with the weeds. The fact that they arrested him for that proves his statement was correct just like the radio station that they are so afraid the people will get to hear the truth.