05 Jun 2014

Journalists should learn to get their facts and figures right, says trade and industry minister, Ms Dorcas Makgato-Malesu.

Speaking at the official launch of Afena Capital Botswana Business Press Club in Gaborone on June 3 Ms Makgato-Malesu said the initiative will become a monthly event and will accord journalists an opportunity to understand business well.

Ms Makgato-Malesu said although there was an improvement in business reporting in the country, more needed to be done and she urged journalists to be patriotic and be able to tell stories better than any other person. 

She said journalists should have the capacity to go in-depth in their reporting like was the case in other countries where there were specialised reporters not only in business but in other sectors such as mining, trade, stock and capital markets and other related issues.

Minister Makgato-Malesu said the country had reached a stage where there was need to have professional cadre that would robustly engage businesses to make it accountable and progressive to clearly highlight available investment opportunities for local and international investors.

She said the Press Club should not become a voyage of fun but a serious engagement that elicited pride from practitioners and key stakeholders. She congratulated Afena Capital Botswana for establishing Business Press club as a vehicle of bridging the gap between the worlds of reporting and business. 

Ms Makgoto-Malesu said it is important for the media to play a key role in maintaining the good image of the country by reporting positive progress made by the nation because such good stories will shape the country’s current infrastructural development, continuous citizen empowerment programmes and other measures.

She said the new space for discussion and exchanges will” undoubtedly complement, in a very valuable way, the already existent communication and the many services that government and business have been offering journalists.” ENDS