President Duma Boko has called on the media to uphold strong ethical standards and balanced reporting, particularly when covering financial and investment matters, stating that responsible journalism can contribute to strengthening Botswana’s economic reputation and investor confidence.
Boko was speaking this morning as the keynote speaker at a media training engagement organised by First National Bank Botswana, which focused on balanced reporting in investment and finance and the role of the media in supporting efforts to improve Botswana’s credit rating.
The President warned journalists about the legal consequences of publishing defamatory material, stressing that liability extends beyond the person who originally creates or utters a defamatory statement.
“The danger with defamation is that you are as liable as the creator of the defamatory material,” Boko cautioned, emphasising that observing ethical reporting standards also serves as a safeguard for journalists and media organisations.
He urged journalists to exercise greater care when reporting on sensitive financial and investment issues, arguing that accuracy, fairness, and thorough verification are essential to protecting both the public interest and the credibility of the press.
Boko also highlighted the importance of Botswana’s engagements with international credit rating agencies, noting that these agencies regularly assess the country’s economic performance and prospects.
“Credit rating agencies have been here, and they keep coming. They want to see whether our economy is on track or not,” he said. According to the President, credit ratings are crucial because potential investors use them to assess the risk level associated with investing in a specific country.
He added that Botswana’s economic narrative must be communicated accurately, with the media playing a vital role in providing public and international audiences with credible information about the country’s investment landscape.
The engagement underscored the need for journalists to strike a balance between scrutinising government and business while ensuring that reporting on economic developments remains factual, contextual, and responsible.
Boko noted that a credible media environment, coupled with sound economic management and responsible reporting, can help build investor confidence and advance Botswana’s broader economic development goals.
