Mmegi

Media catches ‘bullets’ in an election war zone

Armed with just their pens, notebooks and mobile phones, members of the Fourth Estate put up the smart phones shield wall but bullets kept coming under the boiling sky of Botswana Democratic Party (BDP)’s Bulela Ditswe primaries in Ramotswa this past weekend. Mmegi Staffer SPIRA TLHANKANE relives the near blood incident from the trenches of GaMalete
Armed with just their pens, notebooks and mobile phones, members of the Fourth Estate put up the smart phones shield wall but bullets kept coming under the boiling sky of Botswana Democratic Party (BDP)’s Bulela Ditswe primaries in Ramotswa this past weekend. Mmegi Staffer SPIRA TLHANKANE relives the near blood incident from the trenches of GaMalete

Armed with just their pens, notebooks and mobile phones, members of the Fourth Estate put up the smart phones shield wall but bullets kept coming under the boiling sky of Botswana Democratic Party (BDP)’s Bulela Ditswe primaries in Ramotswa this past weekend. Mmegi Staffer SPIRA TLHANKANE relives the near blood incident from the trenches of GaMalete

RAMOTSWA: At Baitlotli Junior Secondary School (JSS), the media thought they were entering an idyllic place with soft white sandy beaches. But, it was a war zone as they were greeted with a hostile storm of brooms from some brute election officers inside the multi-purpose hall.“Don’t even dare come near, pictures are not allowed here,” they shouted seething with anger even before anyone thought of taking out their smartphones for a picture.

A war zone is a place marked by extreme violence and it surely felt like one when one of the angry men hurled warning shots at the scribes, literally pelting all sorts of arsenals including stones. The journalists thought that by indicating that they serve as the guardians of democratic processes would help. The angry men surged forward and it was like being attacked by a swarm of bees. As the cameras gleamed towards the political hellhounds, some members of the media realised that smartphones were not going to shield them from a horde, which was smashing into them.

Editor's Comment
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When claims of such gravity are made, especially by a sitting Assistant Minister they cannot be brushed aside, delayed, or treated as routine political noise. Even the Ombudsman has confirmed receipt of a report from a political party and a review of these complaints is now underway. That is a necessary first step. But it is only the beginning. The seriousness of the allegations demands urgency, transparency and clarity. The public is entitled to...

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