Francis Nyamnjoh: State of the Media in Botswana, 2001

Introducing Francis Nyamnjoh

Francis B. Nyamnjoh is Associate Professor and Head of Publications and Dissemination with the Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa (CODESRIA).
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By Francis B. Nyamnjoh

Introduction
The 2000 report on media-government relations in Botswana sounded a relative note of optimism, which has been seriously tempered by events and developments in 2001. Relations between the government and the media have grown tenser, and mutual suspicion between the two has increased remarkably. It would appear that both are fast catching up with the reality of government-media relations elsewhere in Africa, making Botswana’s commitment to liberal democracy under increasing scrutiny. What accounts for such change of tone and direction? In what way have the media and the government given each other reason to rethink the importance of tolerance and freedom of expression as the foundation of liberal democracy in Botswana?

In the eyes of the Botswana government, in 2000 the critical private press, through perceived sensational, slanderous, often professionally and unethical coverage and reporting of the government (the President and vice president especially), gave the government reason to tighten the rules of the game of journalism in 2001. The government was not happy with the levity and disrespectful manner in which President Festus Mogae and Vice-President Ian Khama were constantly portrayed by some newspapers. We reported how in 2000 The Botswana Guardian accused the president and his government of callous disregard to the plight of the poor, portrayed him as “shrinking” to the whims and caprices of his vice-president, and of snubbing the Ombudsman’s recommendations which sought to bar the vice President from flying the Botswana Defence Force helicopters and taking public officers with him to political rallies.

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November 2008