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eporter Rodrick Mukumbira, whose work and residence permits were valid until October2007; the government again cited national security concerns.Meanwhile Mukumbira has had his appeal against withdrawal of residence permits turneddown after he appealed to the Minister of Labour and Home Affairs. In a letter dated 3 August2005 and signed by H Kebadumetse on behalf of the Chief Immigration Officer, it stated that,“I am directed to inform you that your appeal is unsuccessful. Also that you should leave thecountry as indicated on the Notification of cancellation of your residence permit served onyou,” the letter reads in part.· ALERTDate: June 30, 2005Persons/Institutions: Vanessa Chikuzunga, GabzFMViolation: Threatened, censoredVanessa Chikuzunga, production assistant for the Customer Watchdog programme, broadcaston Monday mornings on GabzFM radio station, was recently threatened in a shop in Gaborone.A security guard and a staff person escorted her to the manager’s office demanding that shehand over the notebook she was using to check prices and expiry dates.Chikuzunga told MISA Botswana she was at the shop to carry out her usual inspection ofprices and check-up on cleanliness of stores when a security guard approached her and demandedshe see the manager. Chikuzunga said she explained to the manager what she wasdoing in the shop and wondered why she was thought to pose a threat when she was simplydoing her job.The manager demanded to know why she was writing down prices and told her that she wasnot welcome in the shop as it had the right of admission. He further threatened to withdrawadvertising from GabzFM and sue Chikuzunga.In an interview with MISA Botswana, the shop manager defended his stance about the right ofadmission being reserved, saying he would welcome any one checking prices provided theysought permission from management to do so. He further refuted having threatened to sueChikuzunga or withdraw advertising from the station. The shop manager later said Chikuzungawas asked to report to his office because “she looked suspicious.”· ALERTDate: April 14, 2005Persons/Institutions: Media in BotswanaViolation(s): Threatening legislationThe Botswana government will retain the stringent apartheid-era National Security Act despitecomplaints from journalists that it limits media freedom.Presidential Affairs and Public Administration Minister Phandu Skelemani said that it wouldbe unwise to repeal the law, introduced in 1986 at the height of apartheid South Africa’s aggressiontowards its independent neighbours.“The Act is seldom invoked, but has been preserved for use when expedient,” said Skelemani.MISA Botswana has asked the government for a public explanation of the reasons for retainingthe act, which it has described as “draconian”.MISA Botswana said the act was introduced “under duress”, when Botswana had been a targetfor military raids against African National Congress activists - circumstances which no longerapply.The act stifles journalism, according to MISA Botswana. Among other provisions it forbidsany person from publishing official information - however insignificant - without authorisation,and bars media reports on Botswana’s military strength and defence expenditure.Since its enactment it has been used to charge seven people, among them Australian ProfessorKenneth Good, a University of Botswana political science lecturer who is currently fighting aSo This Is Democracy? 2005-48-Media Institute of Southern Africa