Mmegi upholds its editorial independence

Mmegi Editor | Friday February 24, 2017 12:32

Our mission is to help build an informed citizenry who can make informed decisions and choices. This requires unbiased and accurate reporting of facts, figures and occurrences.

This is the editorial charter the DPC adopted to guide our reporters. The company recognises and guarantees the editorial independence of its editors, in particular in the selection and rejection of editorial content. Such independence however carries with it the responsibility and the duty to publish accurate, unbiased and well-researched stories and articles.

Following a merger between Mmegi Investment Holdings and Universal House, our publications came under harsh attack from some quarters questioning not only our professionalism but also our editorial independence. Some of the criticism came from former employees of DPC who have since set their own media houses. We respect their right to freedom of expression and we will defend their right to criticise us. But what we take umbrage to is scurrilous, insults, innuendo comments that are influenced by malice. There is a hatched plan to discredit our publications by some of our competitors using their own publications and social media.

Another opportunity to scandalise DPC publications presented itself after the Competition Authority (CA) published a notice, which was decided in respect of the acquisition of 28.73% shares in Mmegi Investment Holdings (Pty) Ltd by Universal House (Pty) Ltd. It is common cause that the CA determined through the analysis of the facts of the merger that the transaction which had already been implemented without prior notification to the Authority, is likely to result in the prevention or substantial lessening of competition, in the market under consideration. As Mmegi editorial department we do not have problem with that.

The Group Managing Director of DPC, Titus Mbuya, through his annual State of Company Address (SOCA) informed employees about the transaction and assured them of job security. He also allayed fears that the ‘Jamali deal’ will compromise our editorial independence. As a veteran journalist and a man of impeccable integrity we believe him. Back to the so-called CA ‘landmark’ judgment! We know as a matter of fact that before the decision was taken, some CA employees went on an inciting spree to influence our competitors to oppose the deal.

Majority of the media houses chickened out of the plan and only Gabz FM and the Botswana Media and Allied Workers Union (BOMAWU) opposed the transaction. We have no problem with that.But it has since emerged that the opposition by BOMAWU was not a consensus of the members but a decision by some in the leadership of the union who are used as a proxy in the ‘media war’. It is a known fact that the media in Botswana is divided and publications are suing each other, something that is not good for the industry. BOMAWU members need to know that DPC management is in full support of the trade union and as Mbuya stated in his December address, its establishment was long overdue. Also, our readers need to know this basic fact: key leadership and owners of the DPC are known media activists.

Today’s thought

“You can’t pick and choose which types of freedom you want to defend. You must defend all of it or be against all of it.”

- Scott Howard Phillips