Reflections on Roundtable Discussion

𝐑𝐞𝐟𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐁𝐌𝐃𝐀 𝐑𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞

Yesterday, 𝐁𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐨 𝐌𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐚 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 (𝐁𝐌𝐃𝐀) hosted a powerful roundtable at UNESCO Hall to address the pressing challenges facing media workers in Lesotho—from 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐮𝐧𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐫 𝐩𝐚𝐲, to lack of institutional support and exclusion from decisions that affect their work.

𝐊𝐞𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐞 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐫: 𝐊𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐥𝐨 𝐁𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐞𝐭𝐬𝐞, 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐌𝐈𝐒𝐀 𝐋𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐨

"It is crucial for media unions and associations to work hand in hand and stand as one voice to be heard and recognized. Too often, decisions affecting media practitioners are made without our consultation—we must be involved in discussions and decisions that are about us."

𝐊𝐞𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐞 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐫: 𝐏𝐚𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐡 𝐊𝐚𝐛𝐢, 𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐏𝐚𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐨 𝐄𝐚 𝐁𝐨𝐩𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐨

"There is endless exploitation in the media landscape, but we have no representative in labour who fights for journalists’ rights, including fair pay. Do we really want our stories to go untold? What if the tomorrow you are waiting to share your story never comes? Our silence perpetuates harassment. Enough is enough."

𝐊𝐞𝐲 𝐓𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞:

● Journalists need representation in labour laws to secure fair pay and safe working conditions.

● Harassment and intimidation thrive because of a culture of silence—this must be broken.

● Existing systems for protecting journalists are slow and inadequate, leaving many without support.

● Journalists are increasingly denied access to information and disrespected in their work.

● Unlike other sectors such as textiles, the media industry is not inspected for labour law compliance.

🚨 𝐁𝐌𝐃𝐀 launched the Rapid Response and Advocacy Channel to support journalists facing threats and violations in the course of their work.

The message was clear: our silence is no longer an option. Journalists must stand together, demand accountability, and fight for dignity in our profession.