BURS, media need each other

Mmegi Editor | Monday January 23, 2023 06:00

Hence, the Botswana Unified Revenue Service (BURS) should be hailed for its continued effort to cement relations with the local media, something that the tax agency has been doing over and over again.

The semi autonomous tax agency has been concerned about media reports that often times carried ‘misrepresentations’ of its activities. As a result, the BURS has apparently been itching to find a platform to air its concerns and share information with members of the Fourth Estate.

Every two-way relationship requires constant introspection to effectively, efficiently and timeously deal with negative concerns.

At the outset of this week Tuesday at Avani Hotel, when the tax agency met members of the media during ‘BURS Chat with the media’, it was apparent that the atmosphere was very tense and it seemed the whole meeting would degenerate into a bitter exchange. Gloves were nearly off as the two parties told each other the sad truth that characterised their relationship.

Of course what started off as a tense meeting ultimately metamorphosed into a cordial interactive and informative session. The hard truth is that dealing with the media presents unique challenges in that external parties cannot control the news media. What is key though is that, relationships between any organisation and the news media are vital. The soft-spoken Commissioner-General Jeanette Makgolo should be commended for taking the bullets as media practitioners from across the media houses hit hard on the BURS upper echelons following accusations of ‘unethical behaviour’ levelled against the media. Daggers were indeed drawn.

The media outrage was sparked by BURS head honchos’ tendency to ‘lecture’ what a BURS story should be like to the media practitioners. In their defence, media personnel responded by suggesting that they will continue to package their stories in the public interest in mind no matter how hurting they could be to the BURS.

Whilst Makgolo’s team was concerned about some media houses’ tendencies to use other sources other than BURS, there were concerns that the tax agency should up its game and respond to media enquiries timeously rather than choosing to ignore questionnaires for reasons best known to them.

In the end, the Tuesday meeting provided a fertile ground for the resurgence of a positive relationship between BURS and the media. This will in the end ensure positive delivery to the benefit of the taxpayer and the public.

Today's thought

''Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much''

-Helen Keller