The Draft Media Bill of 2025 could be just what the doctor ordered for the media fraternity, helping restore media credibility and reshape relations between the media and the public. The proposed law establishes a Media Ombudsman at a time when nations are grappling with information disorders such as disinformation, misinformation, and malinformation, which have eroded trust in news organisations. This is a time when, due to the aforementioned, there are concerns about ethical journalism; hence, the establishment of a Media Ombudsman provides an opportunity to strengthen accountability without necessarily undermining press freedom. The Bill establishes an independent Office of the Media Ombudsman under the Media Council and gives it the power to receive complaints, mediate disputes between members of the public and the media, recommend remedies, and promote ethical journalism. Unlike courts, which are often expensive, formal, and slow, the Ombudsman is designed as a non-judicial, accessible mechanism for resolving media disputes. For a country long proud of its democratic governance but often criticised for limitations on media freedom and access to information, the proposal could prove one of the most crucial media landscape reforms since independence. From way back, Botswana's media environment has operated under a mix of statutory regulation, professional self-regulation, and ordinary legal remedies such as defamation litigation.
However, members of the public who felt wronged by inaccurate reporting, ethical breaches or unfair coverage often faced a difficult choice. They could either complain directly to the media house involved, with no guarantee of satisfaction, or pursue expensive legal action in court. Neither of these options has proved ideal. This sad reality was compounded by the fact that court proceedings can take years and require financial resources that many ordinary citizens lack. At the same time, internal complaints procedures within media houses frequently lack public visibility and independence. Therefore, the proposed Ombudsman seeks to bridge this gap. According to the Draft Media Bill, the Ombudsman will be an “independent, impartial, and non-judicial body” responsible for resolving complaints concerning journalistic conduct and media content. Importantly, the legislation states that the Ombudsman shall not be subject to the direction or control of any person or authority in the performance of duties. This independence is critical because public trust depends largely on whether complainants perceive the process as fair and free from political or commercial influence. Media Ombudsman role Under the proposed Draft Media Bill, the Ombudsman will have four principal responsibilities. Firstly, the office will receive and investigate complaints relating to media content and journalistic conduct. Secondly, it will mediate disputes between citizens and media organisations through non-adversarial processes.
