21 Jun 2016

The Assistant Minister for Presidential Affairs and Public Administration, Mr Philip Makgalemele has pleaded with the regional adjudication committee to exercise fairness and a high level of professionalism as they adjudicate this year’s SADC media awards. 

Officially opening the 21^st SADC Regional Adjudication Committee meeting on June 20 in Kasane, he noted it was only by upholding these standards that they could  promote reporting positively on Africa to create a better Africa and a better world. 

He added that a lot was done since the launch of the commitee in 1995 as indicated by the impressive annual growth in the number of entries from regional media houses. 

“I wish to encourage you to strongly engage editors to urge their reporters to participate in this competition as this will go a long way in ensuring excellence in journalism and promoting the integration of our region through fair reporting,” he said. 

He also implored the committee to continue engaging with the media houses to give the awards  prominence in the media.

He acknowledged that he was aware that recommendations made by the SADC ministers of communication last year had been deferred. 

“It is my belief and hope that in the upcoming council of ministers meeting in August this year, these recommendations will be looked at and a way forward will be mapped,” he emphasised.

Mr MaKgalemele underscored the critical role played by the media in promoting regional integration among ordinary citizens of the SADC community. 

“We cannot afford to have leaders cooperating to build a common future for SADC, while its citizens have no understanding or comprehension of such cooperation,” he said.  

Botswana has done well in the previous SADC Media Competitions with seasoned photographer Yobe Shonga scooping awards for several consecutive years, until his colleague Felicity Male broke that monopoly in 2014. 

In the Print category, Puso Kedidimetse scooped an award for an article he wrote on the ongoing Kazungula bridge last year. ENDS