Although, like any other person the President must enjoy similar rights to ordinary citizens, as the President he is prone to public criticism. Even in the Setswana culture, kgosi ke thothobolo e olela matlakala, which means a leader must always be magnanimous even in the face of criticism which sometimes may not be due. We nonetheless recognise that it takes a great deal of courage and humility for a leader to allow himself to reflect and in hindsight accept views which he had hitherto been otherwise opposed to. That the president in the end withdraw the case and that he did so on advise from the High Level Consultative Forum is indicative of strong character which must be commended. It will go a long way in perhaps assuaging perceptions that he does not take advise once his mind is made up.
As MISA Botswana we do not promote resolution of disputes with the media through the no holds barred and potentially expensive route of the courts. Rather, we prefer conciliatory dialogue which may be followed by an adjudication process in the event that dialogue did not produce mutually acceptable and satisfactory results. Through the Press Council of Botswana, the media in this country has exemplary structures that facilitate the adjudication process complete with a Media Complaints and a Media Appeals Committee. These free structures which enforce the media code of ethics are an avenue for the public to keep the media in check while solidifying the public confidence on the media. We do not plead the innocence or guilt of any party without the full process to make that determination. We nonetheless believe that where anybody feels injured by the media, it is easier and less bruising to make use of the self-regulatory system of the media industry.
