[Ch6109s3]3.       Establishment of Council

            (1) There shall be a Council, to be known as the Media Council.

            (2) The Council shall be a body corporate with perpetual succession, capable of suing and being sued in its own name.

            (3) The Council shall have a common seal and may hold, acquire and dispose of any movable or immovable property.

[Ch6109s4]4.       Independence of Council

            The Council shall operate without any political or other bias or interference, and shall be wholly independent and separate from the government, any political party or any other body.

[Ch6109s5]5.       Objects of Council

            The objects of the Council are—

     (a)     to preserve media freedom;

     (b)     to uphold standards of professional conduct and promote good ethical standards and discipline among media practitioners;

     (c)     to promote the observance of media ethics in accordance with the Code of Ethics issued by the Council under section 9 (1);

     (d)     to promote public awareness of the rights and responsibilities of media practitioners, through such outreach programmes as may be established;

     (e)     to establish links with similar organisations within and outside Botswana;

     (f)      to monitor the activities of media practitioners;

     (g)     to receive complaints directed against media practitioners;

     (h)     to bring together media practitioners and other media stakeholders in Botswana, with a view to exchanging information, sharing ideas and dealing with any challenges facing the development of the media industry;

     (i)      to register and accredit resident media practitioners;

     (j)      to issue accredited resident media practitioners with identity cards;

     (k)     to maintain a media register;

     (l)      to seek financial and other assistance for the operations of the Council;

     (m)    to sponsor training in media work and advise on matters pertaining to the education and training of media practitioners; and

     (n)     to undertake such research into the performance of the media as may be consistent with the furtherance of the Councils objectives.

[Ch6109s6]6.       Registration and accreditation of resident media practitioners

            (1) A resident media practitioner shall be registered and accredited by the Executive Committee.

            (2) An application for registration and accreditation shall be made in accordance with the regulations made by the Executive Committee.

[Ch6109s7]7.       Membership of Council

            (1) The membership of the Council shall consist of all publishers of news and information, whether or not in the private or public sector.

            (2) Subject to the provisions of subsection (1), a publisher of news and information shall apply to the Executive Committee for membership of the Council.

            (3) Any person in Botswana having a legitimate interest in the development of the local media industry may apply to the Executive Committee for associate membership.

            (4) A member or associate member shall pay to the Council such annual subscription as may be prescribed by the Executive Committee.

            (5) A person who contravenes the provisions of this section commits an offence and is liable to a fine not exceeding P5,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years, or to both.

[Ch6109s8]8.       Tenure and termination of membership

            (1) A person shall—

     (a)     be a member or an associate member upon approval of his or her application to the Executive Committee under section 7 (2) and section 7 (3); and

     (b)     cease to be a member or associate member upon termination of his or her membership.

            (2) A person’s application for membership and termination of membership of the Council shall be in accordance with regulations made by the Executive Committee.