20 Nov 2013

Communications and advocacy sub-committee under the Office of President’s poverty eradication programme has called for objective reporting on the issues of poverty eradication.

Press secretary in the Office of President, Mr Masego Ramakgati said at a media and government officials breakfast briefing in Gaborone that his committee was willing to open up to the media about the flagship programme.

Presenting on the overview of the poverty eradication and mobilisation and communication strategy, Mr Ramakgati said there was need to ensure that stakeholders and the general public know the trends and the progress made towards poverty eradication

He said the programme had in the past been marred with reporting that lacked objectivity, due to lack of information or not knowing who to contact concerning poverty eradication issues.

“We want to bridge the gap that exists between us and the media,” he said. He said their committee was there to promote communication and interaction as well as making information available at all levels.

Mr Ramakgati further noted that it was important to develop a consistent message and tone that appropriately reflected the flagship programme in a way that the audience wished it to be reflected.

He further said through a communication strategy, the committee should be able to develop positive relationships and create consistency between poverty eradication programme and public expectations. Secretary general of editors forum, Mr David Moepeng appreciated the briefing, noting that an opportunity like that afforded the media to do their job effectively.

“We value access to information, without that access, we do not exist,” he said. He said part of the reasons for filing unbalanced stories was due to the fact that information was lacking.

Meanwhile, Mr Steven Ludick of the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development whose community development office was tasked with the implementation of the programme said a total of 15 476 beneficiaries had been identified to benefit from the programme, while 4 886 went through awareness training and 2097 received technical training.

The briefing was the first media workshop on the poverty eradication programme meant to establish and sustain a working relationship with the media through regular interaction and updates on this flagship programme.  The next poverty eradication media brief was scheduled for Francistown. ENDS