BDF, Media Mend Fences

By Bame Piet
Staff Writer | Monday February 12, 2007 00:00

 

At the end of the journalists' visit to Exercise Matsubutsubu, it was clear that the two parties are beginning to develop some mutual understanding. This was especially so after Major-General Pius Mokgware warned that false reports and those revealing national security issues could be catastrophic to everybody and not only the BDF.  'Security is everybody's responsibility and you must always remember that our enemies can use your stories against us. I always tell my troops that when they smuggle bullets to outsiders, they may be putting their relatives', child's or mother's life in danger,' he said. 

He said that though people were always complaining that Government spent much money on the military, they must also understand that the BDF should have enough equipment to have confidence.  He urged reporters to emulate what their counterparts in developed countries do to safeguard national security.  He cited the ongoing conflict in Iraq in which Western journalists reporting on the war never reveal their troops' weaknesses. 

He said that Botswana was a small country, hence a small military in the region and its mission was to avoid war at all costs.  Mokgware said that Exercise Matsubutsubu was a way for the BDF to look at itself in the mirror and improve where necessary. 

The exercise involved 3,500 personnel and covered a 150x50km area and that it had been successful, said Brigadier Thulaganyo Masisi.  'I never expected this satisfactory performance from our forces and officers involved in this exercise,' he added. However, financial constraints are said to have played a role in the shortcomings of the exercise.  Masisi said that the BDF was stretched, as it works with other Government departments such as the Wildlife and National Parks and the Botswana Police Service.  Through their Civil Military Cooperation (CIMIC), the BDF has tested close to 364 people for diseases such as diabetes and HIV/AIDS and donated P800 to local authorities. 

Through the CIMIC, forces interact with civilians during times of war to ensure that fighting troops do not trample upon their rights as well as to guide them on safety measures to take.  This is a department that also offers legal assistance to soldiers, protects prisoners of war (POWs) and maintains the relationship between the military and civilians.  Exercises such as Matsubutsubu are conducted every two years.  Journalists commended the soldiers for their high level of discipline as demonstrated during the 'War Game' on Wednesday night.  They said that their perception about soldiers had changed.  'I used to think that soldiers were just wild and rough men who did not care about other people,' said radio journalist Jeanie Olesitse.