18 Jun 2025

Officials have emphasised the crucial role of public relations professionals in managing information dissemination especially during times of crisis.

One of the speakers at the  inaugural conference for government public relations officers in Mahalapye on Monday, Mr Moeti Mohwasa, underscored the necessity for public relations officers to have opportunities for high-level engagement, including meet-and-greet sessions, introspection, and celebrations of their achievements. 

He stressed that such interactions were vital for reflecting on communication performance, confronting challenges, and setting strategic goals for the profession.

“This requires honest deliberations amongst ourselves, bold leadership, strategic action, and accountability to transform your departments. Our aim is to implement long-term reforms that will enhance productivity and promote inclusive growth, as we promised to the people of Botswana during our election campaigns,” he said.

Mr Mohwasa, who is the Minister for State President, said it was important to align communication efforts with the government’s agenda, particularly in building a resilient economy that provided opportunities for all citizens to lead fulfilling lives. 

He outlined key sectors such as democracy, governance, security, land, housing, environment, climate change, education, healthcare, social protection, gender equality, and international relations as focal points for effective messaging.

“It is essential that government messaging is clear and well-understood by the public. Every initiative, programme, project, legislation, across all ministries and sectors, must be packaged well and communicated promptly to build trust and a positive reputation.”

The minister also called for collaboration with private sector communication experts to strengthen government messaging, especially in navigating the complex landscape shaped by both positive and negative narratives, including those manipulated by artificial intelligence. 

He warned that misinformation harms not only individual reputations but also compromises government messaging integrity.

Addressing the broader media ecosystem, Mr Mohwasa highlighted the roles of government, public and private media, social media companies, NGOs, and citizens, urging prompt and responsive communication to mitigate potential damage to government image.

Ms Goitsemang Morekisi, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry for State President, added that the conference aimed to guide government communicators on how to effectively convey programmes and policies, ensuring their voices were heard and impactful.

“Our minister believes that the good work of the government is not always communicated effectively. We are here to standardise our messaging and improve our communication strategies. This conference provides an opportunity to understand government priorities, including the recent 100 days report of the Presidency, and to rethink our communication approaches,”she said.

Ms Morekisi emphasised that civil servants were committed to serving the current administration and must adapt to its vision and action plan. 

She also highlighted the importance of integrating private PROs to assist in service delivery improvements and adopting innovative communication methods.

She said  government continued to navigate a rapidly evolving media landscape, saying a strategic, timely and transparent communication was key in maintaining public trust and promoting national development. ENDS