19 Jul 2022

DailyNews and Kutlwano Magazine are central to government’s communication with the nation concerning programmes, policies and projects.

And information sharing remains critical to the country‘s developmental agenda, Minister for State President, Mr Kabo Morwaeng, said at Kutlwano and DailyNews  re-launch event in Gaborone on Friday.

“Both Kutlwano and DailyNews have been bringing us news and features, debates and impacting social and economic policy and thus helping to shape national priorities,” he added.

He expressed optimism that there would be improved content that could engage the reader and bring about a mindset change.

Recognising significance of the media in a democracy, he said government was committed to repealing the Media Practitioners’ Act of 2008 to allow the media to self-regulate and thereby enhance the country’s democratic credentials.

Minister Morwaeng urged Department of Information Services staff to stay put because new and exciting opportunities were on cards. 

He assured that the ministry was working hard to deliver the exciting opportunities by early next year.

He appreciated their service to Batswana, adding members of the media were the first real step towards achieving the nation’s prosperity in an ever innovative and technologically challenging world.

Minister Morwaeng urged the current staff to learn from retired employees to improve as part of the reset agenda. 

For his part, Botswana Government Communications and Information Systems permanent secretary, Mr John-Thomas Dipowe thanked former editors and staff for having been part of the evolution of what they built many years ago. 

“To you former editors, thank you very much for joining us in celebrating this milestone,” he said.

Mr Dipowe also commended the DailyNews team for being innovative. 

He said he was thrilled by the new developments of availing the newspaper’s PDF format, which could be sent via WhatsApp. 

With all the new developments, he said the team had embraced President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi’s reset agenda.

Former Kutlwano editor, Mr Russ Molosiwa, advised the staff to be passionate about the magazine in order to succeed. 

He advised managers at the department to be excellent performers so as to bring the best from their subordinates.

For his part, deputy permanent secretary for Information and Broadcasting, Mr Oshinka Tsiang, advised the staff to be mindful of the words of the minister who assured them of good things to come.

He said Kutlwano had been a source of information throughout its 60 years of existence. 

He thanked Department of Information Services for reviving the magazine and former employees who contributed to both the DailyNews and Kutlwano.

Mr Tsiang asked for veterans’ assistance and wisdom to help sustain the publications. 

“Writers write until they die, you will still find veterans in renowned newspapers still contributing. We count on your support now that you are retired,” he said. Ends