Minister for State President Moeti Mohwasa has reaffirmed Botswana’s commitment to reforming its media sector to ensure independence, sustainability, and alignment with democratic values.
Speaking at the official submission of the Media Task Team Report and Draft Media Legislative Framework, Mr Mohwasa said the reforms are part of a national effort to open up the media space and safeguard the future of the industry.
“With the right reforms in place, we will achieve self-sustainability in the not-so-distant future. We do not want public media independence to be compromised because of lack of resources,” he said.
The minister outlined steps already underway to strengthen state media operations. Among them is the decision to publish hard copies of state newspapers only twice a week to reduce operational costs. At the same time, the government is expanding digital publications to meet changing audience demands and reach more readers efficiently.
The reforms, as detailed in the Draft Media Legislative Framework, aim to create a media environment where editorial independence is protected, resources are managed sustainably, and content reflects the principles of transparency and accountability.
The government has also emphasized the importance of aligning these reforms with international standards on media freedom, while ensuring the sector remains competitive in the evolving digital landscape.
The submission of the Media Task Team Report marks a key step in Botswana’s broader democratic reform agenda, signaling a clear intention to protect press freedom while modernizing the industry for long-term viability.
