Khama extends olive branch to media?
Chakalisa Dube | Tuesday May 20, 2014 16:59
The leader of the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) often accuses the local private media of being pro-opposition. He has been consistent when it comes to attacking the local private media. It was therefore a foregone conclusion that the President would take a swipe at the Forth estate at Tati Siding launch of Samson Moyo Guma, only to ‘disappoint’. Instead, Khama devoted his time to criticising opposition parties.
When he turned briefly to the media, Khama remarked: “Bone ba ripota hela se se buiwang, ha (ga) ba na mathata (They just report what is said. They have no problem)”.
With that, many were left wondering if the BDP leader was softening to the private press.
The national director of the Botswana chapter of the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA), Buyani Zongwane thinks so.
“The media industry appreciates the toning down by the President regarding his long held views on the local private media. This shows that our pleas to the president to recognise the role of media in a democracy like ours are being considered,” said Zongwane.
“The role of the media in a democracy ensures that citizens make responsible and informed choices rather than acting out of ignorance or misinformation,” he said, adding that information acquired from media served as a checking function by ensuring that elected representatives uphold their oaths of office and carry out the wishes of those who elected them.
“MISA Botswana commends the President for recognising the indispensable role of the media in one of the oldest democracies in Africa,” he said.
But not all agree that the President has had a change of heart. The Botswana Congress Party (BCP) secretary general, Kesitegile Gobotswang saw this as a strategic move to appease the media. “Khama is aware that if he antagonises the media, it could, to some extent work against him and the party at the general elections,” said Gobotswang. He noted Khama “has been consistent with his hate for the local media but now it is surprising that he is changing his stance. There is no credibility in what he is saying. He is just trying to win sympathy of the private media journalists when they report”.
Gobotswang said if Khama saw the media “as worthy partners in the development of the country and want reconciliation, he should be open to them and engage them through activities such as press conferences and debates”.
The spokesperson of the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC), Moeti Mohwasa agreed, saying Khama wanted to use the media to gain mileage. He said that Khama might be realising that he was not winning the war against the media and trying to gain their sympathy as the general election inches closer. Expectedly, the BDP secretary general Mpho Balopi sees no wrong in the President’s approach.
“All BDP leaders value the media and freedom of expression. The president through, his criticism of the media in the past was worried because he believed some reports were not objective and lacked balance,” said Balopi.
He said what Khama did in the past was “without malice. In context it was a way of encouraging the media practitioners to shape up when reporting”.
Balopi added that it was “encouraging to hear the President speaking so well about the media. It shows that he values them as partners in the development of the country, not necessarily meaning that he is after their sympathy.”