This comes at a time when it is almost impossible to get information from the government enclave. This recent development is bound to be an even more painful experience. A principal PRO at the Ministry of Environment Wildlife and Tourism, Archibald Ngakaagae, recently sent a commique to local and international journalists, other PROs, non-governmental organisations and colleagues at the Botswana Government Communications and Information System (BGCIS). "Be informed that I no longer have an official mobile phone, that means from today onwards you can only contact me through the landline or government email, please please don't contact me on my mobile on official matters, thank you," he said in the email.
However, the head of BGCIS, Jeff Ramsay said he was unaware that some public relations officers did not want to be contacted on their personal cell phones. He conceded that not all government spokespersons have been provided with official cell phones. While he said that he could not be sure of the exact ration, he estimated that about 50 percent of senior PROs have official mobile phones, while none of the junior officers have them. Ramsay said it was BGCIS's hope, as the wing in charge of government communication, that all officers would be accommodating at all hours to the media and other stakeholders needing information from the government.However, he said that journalists should also try to be fair to officers and minimise after-hours calls.
