Journalism in the disinformation age is Botswana’s test of democratic resilience
THOMAS NKHOMA | Monday August 25, 2025 09:32
What once passed as harmless political banter on radio call-in shows has now morphed into a high-stakes contest of narratives on social media, where rumors, conspiracy theories, and personal attacks travel faster than the truth. Not only does this discourage robust investigative journalism, but it also erodes public trust. Citizens begin to ask, if both the media and counterclaims accuse each other of lying, who then can we believe?
Consider the case of a breaking story on corruption or maladministration. Within minutes of publication, it can be met with counter-narratives, viral memes, and WhatsApp voice notes that drown out factual reporting. Not long ago, when the government ordered a forensic audit, social media erupted with outlandish tales - millions of Pula in P200 notes allegedly found in Jojo tanks, claims of former ministers being arrested, and rumours of vast sums stashed in private homes. The stories spread with ease, while factual reports struggled to catch up. Those who attempted to inject sanity were shouted down by insults and digital heckling.
It is in such moments that mainstream media must rise to the occasion. The public desperately needs clarity, not clutter, information, not speculation. Journalism has always been the profession that takes chaotic strands of public debate and weaves them into coherent narratives people can trust. If journalists abdicate this responsibility, the vacuum will be filled by misinformation peddlers whose only aim is to provoke, confuse, or score political points.
Botswana’s situation is not unique. Just as Kenya grappled with waves of fake election results circulated via WhatsApp in 2017, Botswana now faces its test of how quickly disinformation can undermine democratic trust. In Kenya’s case, misinformation spread so effectively that even international observers worried about violence. The lesson is sobering. If falsehoods fill the gap before truth is verified, societies can pay dearly. For Botswana, this means journalists cannot afford to wait three days to publish a corrective when rumours spread in three minutes.
Similarly, South Africa’s experience with state capture offers a parallel. During the height of the Gupta scandal, fake news sites deliberately discredited investigative journalists, branding them as agents of foreign interests. The tactic was clear. Discredit the messenger so the public doubts the message. Botswana now sees glimpses of this, with accusations that our media “writes lies” becoming louder, even when untrue. The danger is that once the public dismisses journalists as biased or corrupt, it becomes easier for powerful actors to evade accountability.
The United States, too, provides a cautionary tale. During the Trump years, the phrase “fake news” was weaponised to undermine the credibility of the press. Even reputable outlets such as CNN or The New York Times were not spared. The consequence was deep polarisation. Americans began to inhabit entirely separate realities depending on which sources they trusted. Botswana must take note. In an era where WhatsApp groups and Facebook pages can curate alternate realities, our democracy cannot afford to fragment into echo chambers.
These international comparisons highlight one central truth. Journalists in Botswana must innovate to restore and retain public trust. This requires more than recycling press releases or quoting officials. It calls for proactive storytelling that meets people where they are. When forensic audit rumours circulate, why not deploy real-time explainers or fact-checking graphics? Newspapers could publish “truth tables” that place allegations side-by-side with verified facts. Shareable infographics tailored for WhatsApp could help families and groups distinguish truth from fiction.
Equally important is to humanise corruption stories. Just as South African journalists shifted public focus from the Guptas’ lavish weddings to the ordinary South African denied basic services, journalists in Botswana must link corruption to the daily lives of Batswana. It is not only about who stole what and how much but about the clinic that was never built, the students learning under trees, the young entrepreneurs starved of opportunities. By telling these stories, journalism can make corruption a lived concern instead of a distant political scandal.
Ultimately, journalism in Botswana must reassert itself as a credible truth broker. The ordinary Motswana scrolling through their phone is not just a passive consumer but a citizen trying to make sense of competing truths. The task before journalists is to make truth louder, clearer and more relatable than lies. As John F. Kennedy once said, “The great enemy of truth is very often not the lie... but the myth - persistent, persuasive and unrealistic.” That reminder should anchor our media today. However, this is easier said than done. Media sustainability in Botswana has suffered a steep decline. Newsrooms are thinly staffed, operating with limited resources and minimal budgets for investigative work.
Consequently, with the disinformation age now here, Botswana is its new testing ground. The question is whether our journalism will step up as the shield of democracy or retreat, leaving citizens to fend for themselves in the wilderness of lies. Despite the challenges mentioned above, innovative alternatives exist. Collaborative investigative initiatives, supported jointly by the government, private sector, and civil society, could fund critical reporting. Crowdfunding platforms and grants from development agencies can provide seed funding for investigative teams. Furthermore, partnerships with international journalism networks could give local reporters access to mentorship, tools, and cross-border reporting opportunities.
When Kenya faced a surge of political misinformation surrounding election cycles, newsrooms learned that real-time fact-checking units, social media monitoring teams and visual explainers significantly mitigated misinformation and restored public confidence. Likewise, journalists in Botswana can adopt similar strategies, deploying short videos, shareable graphics, or “truth tables” that juxtapose allegations against verified facts. In a country where WhatsApp remains the most-consumed medium, these tools could reach families, groups and community networks far faster than traditional newspapers alone.
Thomas T. Nkhoma
MISA-Botswana Chairman
However discrediting the messenger so the public doubts the message and sees journalists as biased or untrustworthy can erode their vital watchdog role, making it easier for powerful actors to evade accountability,” writes THOMAS THOS NKHOMA