Journalism is at a make-or-break juncture with President Duma Boko, appearing to be vehemently leading a crusade against journalists hence endangering its very existence, press freedom and free speech, which ought to be fundamentally protected in any democracy. As the onslaught fast gains momentum, a question that has emerges is that is practicing journalism now a crime in Botswana? Journalists in Botswana are now reeling in shock from the sudden departure from expectations by the incumbent President Boko whose administration had promised cordial relations with media, but indications are that as of now that ideal is very much far-fetched. Boko, a human rights lawyer himself, had promised respect for human rights for all and challenged everyone that under his rule, people should freely express themselves as their constitutional rights were granted and that where they are, they must be criticised. Lo and behold, a year down the line, journalists find themselves at the receiving end of what appears to the president’s wrath. Boko now has shifted stance, instead, choosing to vilify journalists as lacking in credibility and poor at what they do despite government having invested in their training. At the centre of this crusade, what has come clear is that Boko appears aggrieved by certain newspaper publications. Even so, he has not named them nor the article he deemed to have misrepresented him or anyone else as his argument falls. As the rift between Boko and journalists ensues, he has often taken cover in that journalists are a lot that like criticising others but “fear engagement”.
In his usual monologue, often laced with Latin, and infatuation for his Havard Professor who he credits for his philosophy, he has labelled media as peddlers of fake news and in the pursuit of defaming people’s character. Nevertheless, his antics come on the backdrop of a government that made a catalogue of promises to reform the media landscape upon taking over in November 2024. Demonstrating a desire to tackle media industry issues, Minister for State President Moeti Mohwasa convened a series of engagements with the media and eventually constituted a Media Law Review Task Force which investigated legislative impediments to journalism, regulation, accreditation, professionalism and media sustainability in Botswana as part of its broader scope. However, in recent memory, Boko’s attitude has contradicted that stance posing serious questions of whether his administration is moving to muzzle free speech or the presidency will forever respond to any publication at any given point.
