I write in response to what I read on The Gazette newspaper dated 16-22 January 2008. In the letter it is suggested that, “the Government must halt all high profile cases with immediate effect.”
Botswana and all Batswana want things to be done fairly and with a lot of transparency. There is nothing like big or sensitive crime, small or less crime in our beloved country. Crime is crime and it is not tolerated in our society, no matter who does it and how. Everyone who does crime, if found guilty by a court of law, should be punished and face the music. The thought that “prominent people’s cases shouldn’t be published”, worries me so much because Botswana doesn’t allow corruption at all. Not publishing them will not help us protect our country’s image but rather we will be fueling bad things and it will become worse after some time. The government shouldn’t control or edit private media when it comes to the so- called prominent cases. This won’t be democracy and justice and it will not be fair. This will not be fair to the people who get information from the local media, so if we silence the media, how are we going to know what is happening? If we want to protect our country’s image we should stop corruption from its roots, and embarrass all those who do bad things through the media. Media has had so many headliners about the so-called top dogs in the society before, I wonder why the noise to silence the media this time? I hope we all remember Robert Masitara’s case and also Mhlauli’s. Both their cases were published and if it wasn’t for the media, where would we have got the information? Let the media do its good work, as true and fair writing will set it free. In South Africa the ANC president had all his dirty works media published and now the Senior Police Commission is facing the music. Our local media is our pride and it is doing a great work.
Moreri Botiki Keorapetse
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