30 May 2022

After 41 years of continuous work in the Department of Information Services, Ms Kebaeditse Baitlotli will retire from public service on June 6.

Ms Baitlotli’s dedication to work and strict application of media ethics has won her accolades from different people she has met over the years as a reporter for Botswana Press Agency (BOPA).

For years, her voice echoed on Radio Botswana’s Tatediso Ya Dikgang and her byline was a constant feature in the DailyNews, particularly on crime stories.

Speaking at her farewell party organised by Baitlotli’s colleagues and friends on Saturday, Minister for State President, Mr Kabo Morwaeng appreciated Ms Baitlotli’s dedication to work and described her as an epitome of public service values.

Minister Morwaeng, whose portfolio includes government media, said Ms Baitlotli had, throughout her service, displayed professionalism in her news reporting and dedicated herself to serving the country well, as shown by her work at different work stations.

“Throughout the years that Ausi Keba was a reporter, I never heard of her being disrespectful as happens with some amateurs in the journalism profession,” he said.

Saying retirement was a life-altering event, Mr Morwaeng encouraged civil servants to plan for their retirement to be able to face the outside world.

He also encouraged civil servants to render their services where they were needed and not to reject transfers as was the case with some of them.

He said he intended to visit employees to appreciate their work and have conversations with them to understand their work conditions.

Government would continuously strive to improve work conditions, he said.

For his part, Kweneng District Council chairperson, Mr Motlhophi Leo also hailed Ms Baitlotli for having served the nation for a long time.

“Kebaeditse has served us well and we will greatly miss her voice.

She was an unbiased reporter and always ensured her stories had substance,” he said.

He said Ms Baitlotli had familiarised herself with council procedures and knew the councillors as well as issues that they faced in their respective wards.

He praised her for putting Kweneng in the map through her professional and balanced news reporting.

Acting chief press officer in the Department of Information Services, Ms Lorato Okaile described Ms Baitlotli as a leader and an elder who was always available to guide young reporters and was not afraid to provide guidance to her superiors.

“Keba was not the kind of a reporter who would break a story and leave readers hanging. She would run with the story up to the very end,” she said.

Ms Okaile said Ms Baitlotli was an excellent court reporter who always kept her news sources closer and never allowed herself to be biased.

Ms Baitlotli’s daughter, Ms Lulu Maselwa expressed gratitude for the love her mother’s colleagues showed her throughout her service at the Department of Information Services.

She said Ms Baitlotli loved her work and was a good example of discipline within the public service, something that also shaped her and siblings career paths.

Ms Maselwa said they grew up reading from various sources of news as her mother always wanted to be abreast with current affairs.

For her part, Ms Baitlotli thanked colleagues for bidding her farewell and stated that she was available as a reference point should they to share her experiences and provide advice.

Ms Baitlotli has worked in various parts of the country, among them, Letlhakeng, Lobatse, Serowe and Molepolole. BOPA