The day the DIS raided Mmegi

There is no doubt that in a democratic dispensation like ours, security intelligence is a key component in managing internal and external threats to a nation. But, when the work of security intelligence organs becomes intrusive and weaponised, targeting political opponents of the ruling elite, the whole exercise now defeats the very tenets of democracy. This is what to a large extent has raised the value of this story as my best in the year 2023. The media, which the DIS has always identified as a crucial partner, has all of a sudden become an enemy of the nation.

It is apparent international media partners have long issued a warning to the Botswana government about the detrimental impact the DIS could have on the country’s standing on the global press freedom index after past experiences. The actions of the DIS impacted negatively on the media and press freedoms, which are key pointers in a democratic set up.