Media bash won�t stop the leaks

Mmegi Editor | Tuesday March 3, 2015 10:34

But just before reaching the critical point, there were disturbing reports that the Minister of Finance and Development Planning has cut by one percent budget for each ministry. A Savingram communicating that or something that could have been interpreted as meaning such triggered the reports. In responding to a question posed by Gaborone Central MP Phenyo Butale to clarify the reports, the minister accused the local media of publishing lies to boost their sales.

“I have seen two media reports on the allegations that the Hon. Member Butale is asking about. I wish to categorically inform this honourable House and the nation, that there is absolutely no truth in the reports of the two newspapers. The effect of the reports can only be to mislead the public while at the same time boosting the sales of the concerned newspapers. Equally, Madam Speaker, whoever has been feeding the media with this type of allegations, was also misleading the public,” said the minister.

In the latter part of the minister’s response, he acknowledges that there are some people who fed the media with the information in question. They have done it in the past, they continue to do it today, and will definitely do it in the future.

Once again, we are reminded of the country’s recent history of incidents and decisions by the Government, which were never shared with the public, but were somehow passed to the media by concerned citizens of this great republic. They turned out to be true despite the Government denials and accusations that it was attempts by media houses to boost sales.

One example was reports of corruption and mal-administration at the Botswana Meat Commission, then deathbed between 2010 and 2012.  The Government insisted that everything was well and good, and that the nation should ignore “negative” reports in the media. But then the truth came out, and the BMC became subject of various investigations.

Yet another tip off, which the media carried and the Government initially denied but later turned out to be true, was the transfer of the Disaster Management Fund monies for the establishment of the Directorate of Intelligence and Security Service. After much denial and accusations against the private media, the then acting minister of presidential affairs and public administration Mokgweetsi Masisi admitted to the fact and apologised for the ‘error’. The examples are many. So, Dear Minister Matambo, forget it.  We will not keep quiet when we hear disturbing allegations that have a serious bearing on the (mis) management of this country’s resources.