13 Feb 2022

Radio journalists have been called upon to adhere to basic standards of journalism to promote trust among their audience.

In his keynote address during commemoration of World Radio Day in Letlhakeng on Friday, Deputy permanent secretary in the Ministry of Transport and Communications Cecil Masiga said broadcasters currently  had a sensitive task of the coverage and continuous reporting of the constitutional review process.

He said the assignment challenged them to be cautious  in their reporting, adding that radio should and would remain an integral part of President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi’s Transformation Agenda.

He said from yesteryears radio had always played a critical role as it was the main link between the society and government programmes.

“It drove agricultural and cultural advancements through announcement of public education programmes and recording of songs that later epitomised what we stood for as a nation,” he said.

He thus credited the radio community for contributing to the country’s economic development and social inclusion.

He said the theme: Radio and Trust, challenged the radio community to carry out their job ethically and commit to driving social inclusion.

Botswana Communications Regulatory Authority (BOCRA) chief executive officer Martin Mokgware said World Radio Day served a dual purpose; to address and discuss thematic issues as guided by UNESCO and to expand FM radio connectivity to every village or town in the country.

He said in an effort to promote access to communication services for all, BOCRA recently completed a project to expand coverage of Yarona FM, Gabz FM and Duma FM in Salajwe, Malwelwe and Takatokwane.

Mokgware said to date 41 villages had been connected to commercial radio stations in Kgalagadi, Mabutsane and Kweneng regions.

“Over the coming financial year, we plan to cover additional 56 villages to take the tally of villages with commercial FM Radio services in Botswana to 97,” he said.

The BOCRA ceo further said the COVID-19 era had shown the need for radio broadcasting to grow despite availability of many alternative communications technologies.

He said when faced with these unprecedented levels of uncertainty, radio became the trusted source of information that could be relied on with a fair degree of confidence.

He said BOCRA had been receiving enquiries from people who wished to be licensed to operate commercial FM radio broadcasting and even community broadcasting.

He, therefore, assured Batswana that they been working with neighbouring countries coordinating shared radio frequency spectrum with a view to getting additional frequencies and were now at the tail end of the process.

Reading a message on behalf of the UNESCO Director General Audrey Azoulay, Deputy permanent secretary in the Ministry of Presidential Affairs, Governance and Public Administration Oshinka Tsiang said the day celebrated independence and reliability of radio.

He said many people turned to radio as a credible source that could be trusted, as it established a more direct, more intimate relationship between speaker and listener.

“The best guarantee of radio independence, however, is the diversity of those who make it and the diversity of their voices,” he said.

Tsiang said UNESCO pledged solid support for radio stations that presented better representation of diversity in terms of language, gender and ideas.

In his welcome remarks Kgosi Itsoseng Gaoonwe of Letlhakeng said radio broadcasting played a critical role in nation building.

He said provision of news and entertainment were important aspects to acquisition of knowledge and information.

Kgosi Gaoonwe said trust remained integral between the speaker and listeners, cautioning those that seemed to be partisan.

When giving vote of thanks Letlhakeng Sub-District Council chairperson Meshack Tshenyego pleaded with radio stations to provide coverage during council meetings to ensure information sharing. BOPA