17 Aug 2014

The Chinese community residing in Botswana on August 12 celebrated their newspaper, Oriental Post’s fifth anniversary in Gaborone.

The Oriental Post is the Botswana’s first Chinese language newspaper, which was launched in May 2009. Speaking at the anniversary, president of the Oriental Post in Gaborone on Wednesday August 13, Mr Miles Nan said the media industry played an important role in bridging Batswana, Africans and Chinese.

“The media opens a window on Africa to the Chinese people,” he said.

Mr Nan said in the future, the African Oriental Post group and global Max media group would do more effort to boost the friendship and cultural exchange between Botswana and China and between the African people and Chinese, to guide the African people understand China better and Chinese people understand Africa better.

He stated that the newspaper has already expanded to Zambia, Tanzania and South Africa.During the past five years, Mr Nan said they participated in and covered the activities of the Chinese community, focused on the local policies and law changes and to bring the updated and accurate information to the Chinese readers.

“We invited the professionals to give advices to readers such as in the labour laws, traffic laws and other issues,” he said.

He said the newspaper was not only a social issue recorder, to report the important or small issues but also to bridge the mutual understanding between people.

The Chinese also launched the new website for the newspaper which is www.qiaowang.org and www.orientalpost.net.

He said though the newspaper has made a great progress and achievement, they were still struggling for survival, especially lack of professional staff and funds.

Mr Nan stated that during the past five years, the newspaper cost billions of pula, but they are still doing the business because of social responsibilities and Botswana-China friendship drove them to move forward.

For his part, the Acting Minister of Education and Skills Development, Mr Mokgweetsi Masisi also applauded the president of the newspaper and his team for its establishment as it enhances the mutual understanding between China and Botswana. 

“I wish to see the newspaper going places, in all countries worldwide,” he said.

Meanwhile, the government’s communication coordinator Dr Jeff Ramsey said the establishment of the paper is the milestone in the development of the media in Botswana.

He applauded China for the newspaper and for contributing towards Botswana’s economy. Ends