08/11/2025
𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐒 𝐑𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐄
𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐈𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞
𝐁𝐄𝐅 𝐔𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐬 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐁𝐨𝐤𝐨 𝐭𝐨 𝐂𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐇𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐑𝐡𝐞𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐜 𝐓𝐨𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐚 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐔𝐩𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐃𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐜𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲
The Botswana Editors Forum (BEF) expresses deep concern over the escalating pattern of public attacks on the media by President Duma Gideon Boko. The President has, on multiple occasions, used public platforms to disparage journalists, a troubling trend that threatens the foundation of Botswana's constitutional democracy.
The BEF urges the President to exercise restraint. His words carry immense influence in shaping national discourse, and when directed against the media, they risk stifling scrutiny, weakening public-interest journalism, and undermining the freedom of expression enshrined in Botswana's Constitution.
While journalism, like any profession, is not without flaws, such imperfections do not justify efforts to delegitimise the entire Fourth Estate. The Constitution already provides appropriate avenues for seeking redress. It is neither necessary nor fitting for the Head of State to engage in personalised confrontations with journalists.
𝐉𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐦 𝐀𝐬 𝐀 𝐂𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲
BEF further notes that much of the forensic audit work now cited by the President draws heavily on facts, leaks, investigations, and exposés originally uncovered by journalists over the years. It is these journalists, often working under unsafe, underpaid, and politically hostile conditions, who have unearthed the truths that underpin many of today's accountability efforts.
Indeed, President Boko once defended journalists against the hostility of the previous administration, recognising their vital role as public messengers of truth. He often went to rallies armed with information unearthed by the press, information that helped build his credibility and galvanise public support.
It is therefore troubling that the President now chooses to attack the very profession whose work contributed significantly to his rise and to the strengthening of democratic awareness among citizens.
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐚'𝐬 𝐑𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐈𝐬 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐔𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞
The media exists to serve the public interest independently, truthfully, and without fear or favour. A vibrant and free press is essential to democracy, even when its scrutiny is uncomfortable for those in power.
BEF cautions the President against weaponising the shortcomings of the press to undermine the Fourth Estate. Hostility from the highest office risks shrinking democratic space, discouraging whistleblowers, and eroding the culture of accountability.
𝐈𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧
𝐁𝐄𝐅 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐇𝐢𝐬 𝐄𝐱𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐁𝐨𝐤𝐨 𝐭𝐨:
• 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐚, 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭;
• 𝐑𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐮𝐩𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐞.
Botswana has entrusted President Boko with the honour of leading all citizens including journalists. We urge him to wear that honour with calm, restraint, and fidelity to the Constitution.
The health of our democracy depends on it.
Issued by Botswana Editors Forum
