Newly elected government believes in media freedom, and a thriving press that works in a self-regulatory environment, that is ethical, fair and impartial in its reportage, Minister for State President Mr Moeti Mohwasa has said.

Speaking during a media consultative forum he hosted for the domestic press on Thursday in Gaborone, he said the current government does not believe in interfering with journalistic work, but seeks a free press, which needs stakeholders to be laser focused in transforming the media space.

He said the party in government would during its tenure, fulfil its pledge of converting state media into a public media run by an independent board free of political influence and manipulation. Mr Mohwasa said there was a need for pieces of legislation such as an Access to Information Act to ensure that the press operates in an enhanced environment.

He said in order to support the promotion of indigenous language development, there was a need for community radio stations to be organised. While calling for a free, self-regulated press, Mr Mohwasa called for ethical journalism, for the state media to be free of ruling part political party propaganda, and for the private press to be liberate itself from any manipulation by commercial or political interests. He further called for fact checking, giving the right to reply, and the writing of balanced stories to ensure fairness.

Permanent Secretary- Government Communications, in the Ministry for State President, Ms Montlenyane Baaitse said the role of the media was critical, as it served as a backbone of democracy, acting as a mirror to society and facilitating public discourse.

While excellence, integrity and service to the public good are important, in the modern world, miscommunication and misinformation were growing threats to media ethics, and important for the Botswana press to guard against these, Ms Baaitse cautioned. She further said the media should collaborate and share best practices, and this could forge a journalistic landscape that is ethical.

Chairperson of the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Botswana Chapter, Mr Thomas Nkhoma said since independence the media has evolved from being a small, largely state controlled space to a more diverse sector existing in various platforms.

He said the digital era has disrupted traditional media, with younger audiences consuming news through online platforms such as Facebook, YouTube and WhatsApp, challenging more formal media platforms. Mr Nkhoma said despite some challenges, the Botswana media has managed to shine a light on national issues, initiating robust public discourse and shedding light on societal issues.

He noted some of the challenges the media face, including the lack of economic sustainability, including the reliance on advertising which may lead to compromised editorial independence, and restrictive laws hindering investigative journalism.

Mr Nkhoma called for Parliament to pursue legal reforms that would support investigative journalism and for the media to explore diverse revenue streams, and for institutions such as University of Botswana to support media training. He said by addressing the legislative framework, increasing professionalism, the media could strengthen the country’s democracy, and a free and vibrant media could guide the country towards greater accountability.

Botswana Editors Forum Secretary General, Mr Kealeboga Dihutso, said government advertising in the private media started declining from 2014, which significantly reduced revenue accruing to the domestic press.

Mr Dihutso said whereas private radio stations were regulated by Botswana Communication Regulatory Authority (BOCRA), state media entities were not regulated and were undercuting advertising rates to the detriment of the growth of the private press.

The forum, attended by media practitioners from the public and private press, engaged on thematic discussions on topics such as legislative frameworks, the transformation of state media, information security, digital transformation and its impact on the media. ENDS