Together with their officers, they spoke at length about topical issues such as the replacement of the ear tag identification for cattle, the re-listing of Botswana Meat Commission in the lucrative European Union market and the recent amendment bill on the BMC Act. The minister emotionally spoke of how the public has misinterpreted the amendment to mean that he was trying to privatise the BMC so that it can be bought by his friends who will then monopolise the beef industry. He spoke at length on what he termed the good intentions of the bill and said government is committed to protecting the BMC from any outsiders who may try to monopolise the Botswana beef industry.
It is a very good idea for ministers to hold press conferences to explain government policy to people. However, we must point out that some of these 'explanations' and 'clarifications' have been brought about by government's love for secrecy even when it is not necessary. The current administration has created an atmosphere of suspicion and fear, even in the civil service. Almost everything that the government does, no matter how good, is viewed with grave suspicion and is dismissed as a smokescreen for hiding the motives of those in power. The situation is not helped by the fact that the government has adopted a system of only using the emasculated state media to inform the nation. Though dominant, the state media has its failings caused by the fact that it is seen more as a propaganda organ for the ruling party and government.
