24 Mar 2024

In the quest to strengthen good relations with the media, Statistics Botswana will soon launch Statistics Botswana Media Ambassadors.

Statistician General, Dr Burton Mguni said during a media engagement event in Gaborone recently that the ambassadors would be a select group of Statistics Botswana employees who would serve as media spokespeople.

“These Ambassadors will be available to work with the media on stories with statistical content over a period of time,” he said.

Dr Mguni said Statistics Botswana and the media fraternity enjoyed healthy and fruitful working relations since 2012 when the organisation stated operating as a body corporate, and therefore it was important to maintain good relations for the benefit of all users, producers and providers of official statistics nationally and globally.

He emphasised that it was important that correct and credible statistical information was always communicated, saying at times they were misrepresented, hence the programme.

He further said official statistics were produced to inform and to be used by stakeholders for evidence-based decisions making, adding that statistics played a crucial role as it provided valuable insights to help in supporting decision making processes.

“Timely, accurate, relevant and disaggregated statistics are key to effective policy formulation,” said Dr Mguni, further saying such statistics was good for reporting on national and international frameworks.

Mentioning some of the statistical information Botswana Statistics successfully released, he cited the Fifth Botswana AIDS impact Survey (BAIS V) through Ministry of Health and National AIDS and Health Promotion Agency (NAPHA).

He further said his organisation  released the Quarter 3, 2024 Quarterly Multi Topic Survey which provided updated labour force indicators such as employment and unemployment rates.

Furthermore, Dr Mguni said in two months they would kick-start Information and Communications Technology Survey of 2024, adding that preparations for the 2025 Agricultural Census had also commenced. The event was aimed at increasing awareness on Statistics Botswana and its mandate, products and services among the media fraternity and assisting media on accessing Statistics Botswana's products and services through open data portals and website. ENDS