16 Feb 2025

Installation of transmitters in Tutume, Sekakangwe and Tshesebe will provide a combined coverage to over 85 000 residents in North East and Tutume districts.

This was revealed by Minister of Communications and Innovation Mr David Tshere during World Radio Day in Tshesebe on Thursday.

He said the installation was facilitated by a collaboration between Botswana Communications and Regulatory Authority (BOCRA) and the Universal Access and Service Fund.

Mr Tshere said the reception of the commercial radio stations would give people in these villages freedom to choose any radio station of their liking and also enhance democracy.

Furthermore, the minister said given the high rate of mobile phone penetration, radio was now available accessible to almost every person making it the most ideal platform to deliver messages on climate change, green technologies and environmental sustainability.

Botswana like the rest of the world is experiencing climate change and often get alerts, news reports of heatwaves, cold fronts as well as ways of how people should protect themselves during such climate conditions through the radio, Mr Tshere said.

He said recently, there were reports of heavy rains in different parts of the country, but preceding that, there were warnings of possible floods through radios.

“When the flood occurred people were better prepared and with the help of modern technologies, radio continues to be accessible through various means including computers and mobile phones,” he said.

On the other hand, he listed the challenges faced by radio among them, rapid spread of misinformation and disinformation which eroded public trust in the media and had made it difficult for citizens to distinguish between facts and falsehood.

This, he said particularly occurred when online platforms often prioritised shocking and exciting subjects, language and style to ignite public interest over accuracy.

The minister urged radio stations to provide fact-based, well researched and balanced content adding that radio could restore public trust in the media and guide its listeners toward reliable sources of information.

Member of Parliament for Tati East, Mr Tlhabologo Furniture said people would not develop without radio as it was their source of reliable and accurate information.

He said radio conveyed information of activities and events happening in the country and around the world keeping people informed hence spoke of the need for radio stations to grow.

“We encourage licensing of community radio stations that would broadcast in various local languages targeting communities of villages they broadcast in,” he said.

Mr Furniture encouraged the community to protect the environment and guard against depleting the ozone layer, noting that it was the responsibility of all leaders to ensure protection of the environment and the atmosphere. ENDS