01 Dec 2013

President Lt Gen. Seretse Khama Ian Khama says government is worried by irresponsible reporting by some media houses. 

Addressing the 35th High Level Consultative Council (HLCC) meeting in Gaborone on November 28, the President said some sections of local media abused their freedom by reporting falsehoods.

He complained about a growing tendency by some media houses to report innuendo and deliberately twist and sensationalise information. He warned that such was not acceptable in any democratic society.

“The extent of such abuse is arguably reflected in the growing resort by members of the public to civil suit against various private publications. From the perspective of government, we are concerned at the growing amount of slander now being directed to members of the executive, including senior government officials, who are subjected to personal attacks for carrying out their public duties,” the President said. 

Given the absence of a credible regulator, said President Khama, government will now become more proactive in taking legal steps to protect its members from flagrant abuse.

“It has therefore been decided that where members of government, including senior officials, have been the subject of such abuse by the press, government will extend to them appropriate legal support,” he said.

President Khama assured the HLCC that government recognised the role played by the media industry, but advised that the media must be ethical, objective and professional in approach. Ends