Opening
Some mornings arrive quietly, with only the whisper of a turning page or the soft tap of a reporter’s keystrokes reminding us that stories, like rivers, carry the lifeblood of a society. In Botswana’s cities and villages, journalists and editors alike have long served as the quiet rivulets that nourish democracy — giving voice to the unseen, shaping shared memory, and reflecting the hopes of citizens upon the canvas of public life. But when winds of adversity brush against those currents, the clarity of that reflection can grow fragile, and the beauty of the landscape dim.
Body
The Media Institute of Southern Africa’s Botswana chapter — an organisation rooted in the region’s history of advocacy for expressive freedom — recently released a statement that gently yet firmly raises its voice against what it sees as an emerging chill within the country’s media environment. While acknowledging positive steps taken by the government after the 2024 general elections to foster openness and constructive dialogue with media practitioners, MISA Botswana also describes a growing tension that risks overshadowing those early gestures of collaboration.
In the ebb and flow of public discourse, criticism is not an ill wind; rather, it is the very breath that lets discourse live. Yet, according to MISA Botswana, recent months have seen journalists subjected to sustained public attacks — from accusations of misinformation to being labelled unethical — sometimes with amplification from high‑ranking public officials. These narratives can, intentionally or otherwise, contribute to a climate where harassment — especially online — feels normalised rather than challenged.
Of particular concern is a reported incident involving the reassignment of broadcaster Letumile “Lets” Montsosa from a morning programme on public radio after coverage touching on the Constitutional Court. MISA notes that if this removal is connected to editorial content, it could signal a troubling encroachment on editorial independence — one that blurs the line between public service and political communication.
To those who champion openness, the call for respect for press freedom is not abstract rhetoric but a living appeal grounded in Botswana’s Constitution, where freedom of expression and the media’s role as a watchdog are affirmed as democratic entitlements — not concessions. MISA Botswana’s statement underscores that public media must serve the public interest and reflect a panorama of voices rather than echo singular narratives.
The group also reminds journalists of the enduring importance of ethical practice while urging that critiques of journalism be addressed through established professional channels rather than through public denunciations or punitive measures. In this, MISA’s position embraces balance: advocating for independence while recognising the value of accountability.
Closing
In its gentle appeal, MISA Botswana invites the nation’s leaders to reaffirm a commitment to tolerance of criticism, legal reform, and editorial freedom — pillars that hold up not only the edifice of robust journalism but the larger architecture of democratic society itself. As Botswana navigates the complex terrain of media and governance, the echoes of this conversation may well shape how future generations understand trust, transparency, and the art of listening as much as the art of speaking.
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Visuals are created with AI tools and are not real photographs; they serve as conceptual depictions.
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Sources
AllAfrica, MISA Regional official publication, Bulawayo24 News, Afrobarometer, Committee to Protect Journalists.