The perceived favour and inclination that is often conferred upon government media by government officials ahead of other media practitioners had vanished. Right or wrong, the private media is often accused of taking a hard stance against the government.
In this particular case, the media from both sides, had adorned the national colours and we were now a national team selected from different media houses. We were able to exchange notes, videos, audios and other necessities that simplified our task at hand. It was very rare as it is always man or woman for himself or herself, which in street language is called ‘indoda ye sibonela’.
Our duty was to amplify the voice of Botswana and hoist high the national flag in London where Botswana led a campaign against prohibition of trophy hunting by some European countries including the UK. Last week Friday the Trophies Hunting (import prohibition) Bill passed the second reading at the House of Commons.
This was after Botswana top delegation led by the Minister of Environment and Tourism, Dumezweni Mthimkhulu, and other experts had presented the real picture of Botswana’s case to the UK and other European countries. Other team members were able to go to Germany and France to further buttress the position of the country to the two European countries.
It is perhaps, the unity of purpose that helped the Botswana media team operate as one in telling its own story to the world. The main target was to reflect on why the country is opposed to a Bill that attempts to stifle rural economies if it can finally ascent to become a law.
Like soldiers deployed in a troubled area, the newshounds feasted on the trophy-hunting story leaving the social media abuzz with the Botswana position. This has further triggered many inquiries from the European media as reports show that President Mokgweetsi Masisi has proposals for interviews from Europe’s major television channels and newspapers.
It is apparent that the story of trophy hunting or its proposed ban is a story that is worth telling more so that if the Bill finally ascents to a law, it would mean that communities living alongside wildlife who have been benefitting from the proceeds of trophy hunting will be stifled.
So too, their conservation activities and other empowerment benefits will be destined to collapse. Perhaps, this is where ‘patriotism’ comes in, especially when a developing country is facing a giant like the UK, as some of its MPs seem content with seeing Botswana’s rural economies plummeting as a result of the law intended to impose a ban on trophy hunting.
Patriotism does not suggest that journalists gullibly would forgo their professionalism and lose their worth in terms of telling their country’s story without consideration of ethics.
In pursuit of this story, our greatest apprehension was the harm some UK-based publications, including politicians had inflicted on our country, ignoring massive science-based evidence available about the Botswana’s case.
No matter where interesting developments were taking place, veteran broadcaster, Oshinka Tsiang, Deputy Permanent Secretary (Information and Broadcasting), was very resourceful in aiding media practitioners to manage certain assignments especially when they were running at the same time.
He also organised the British media for interviews at the Botswana High Commission in London and other sites including persons of interest and UK-based experts for interviews for the benefit of all and sundry.
He did not restrict himself to his team from the government-based Mass Media complex, his duty was to resource all of us. A WhatsApp group was created which was abuzz with information that we shared as a team.
We literally abandoned the silo mentality and worked together in everything that we did in terms of exchanging notes, sharing videos and confirming facts together knowing we were providing news to different target markets. There was free flow of information, so to speak. Yobe Shonga, Daily News and BOPA chief photographer was able to speedily share his pictures with all the media houses as and when we needed them. This attitude, if properly nurtured can simplify the work of journalists, as there are instances in the past where assistance that we needed in line with our duty was not forthcoming from our government colleagues.
Tsiang, Tapologo Kwapa, acting director, Botswana Government Communication and Information System (BGCIS), Leatile Mmutle, news editor Duma FM, Shonga, BOPA chief photographer, Pako Lebanna, Daily News/BOPA reporter, Dikarabo Ramadubu, Botswana Guardian/The Midweek Sun investigations editor, Otshedile Onkabetse, Botswana Television reporter, Setshege Baruti, Botswana Television cameraman, Ketumile Ramatiti, WeekendPost reporter, Letlhogile Mpuang, Botswana Gazette reporter and Yours truly from Mmegi newspaper, made up the media team in London.
Ramadubu was lucky to have won himself a place into the House of Commons as the only journalist from our group and he was able to share his recording with the rest of the team and this emboldened unity.
WeekendPost’s reporter Ramatiti corroborates the story of unity: “We worked as a team in London. Ramadubu was able to go into the House of Commons and was able to share his recording with us freely.” He also remembered Duma FM’s Mmutle who had attended a session at the Oxford University and was able to share his recording with those who were on the other side of London.
“From what I saw, unity was at its highest. I would encourage journalists to work closely together for the benefit of listeners, viewers and readers incessantly as that is the target of the media anyway,” he noted. The Botswana Gazette journalist, Mpuang was upbeat that Botswana journalists that were in the UK were real patriots who collaborated to tell a solid story on their own country. ]“We all had the notion of achieving results as a collective. In terms of collaboration of ideas and even angling of the stories, we got counsel from some members of the team and it really worked as we were able to see things differently,” said the visibly elated Mpuang.
Onkabetse, a reporter at the national television station, Botswana Television, was able to pick the camaraderie that existed between the Botswana news team members, which she described as deliberate and intentional, “because we were all given common or shared goals.”
She acknowledges that the national assignment helped the media contingent to work together, “whether we were fully aware of it or not, we, however, had common shared goals as a team.” Her strongest feeling is that the local media should run with something like that all the time and not allow the spirit of competition to blind people.
It was also press briefings in between the activities at the Botswana’s High Commission in London, which made it possible to provide the requisite catch-ups.
The street, 6 Stratford Place, London W1C 1AY, where Botswana’s High Commission in London is located, was almost the command centre as this is where instructions were issued on a daily basis and updates provided. The British media and our teams mostly conducted interviews here.
About 47 people who were part of the Botswana delegation in London spent time at the mission in an endeavour to add voice to the Botswana’s position against the Bill that intends to prohibit trophy hunting. Even Batswana living in the UK, had an opportunity to mingle with team Botswana at the High Commission where dinner was served on Monday evening.
Like colleagues, Features and Business editor Mbongeni Mguni would say, “When I was in Washington DC,” and news co-ordinator, Spira Tlhankane always brags about, “When I was in Russia”, I now have reasons to answer back, “When I was in London!” Challenge fully accepted.
There are other major travels, that we share in common especially Yours truly and Mguni as we have travelled to other destinations including India at separate times. But, there are destinations that we consider to be premier.
It is amazing how a national assignment temporarily congealed the competitive atmosphere that usually prevails when members of the Fourth Estate from various media houses cover an event chasing a scoop. Instead, the spirit of camaraderie prevailed throughout this London national assignment. Writes Mmegi Staffer RYDER GABATHUSE
