Use social media to build, not destro

It is a warning flare to every Motswana who logs onto social media. As a country, we have reached a point where the line between robust debate and outright destruction has become dangerously blurred. At face value, Mabeo’s response, which seeks an apology and threat of a defamation suit, might seem severe to some. But we cannot ignore the context. The comment in question did not offer a policy critique or question a political decision.

It accused a public figure of being a drug user based on nothing but reckless speculation. Such words have weight. In Botswana, the courts are increasingly clear that defamation is not just a civil wrong; it can land an offender in prison for up to two years.