GOV’T CALLS FOR INCREASED MISA BOTSWANA FUNDING

The Assistant Minister of State President, Boitumelo Gofhamodimo has rallied a call of support as she called for increased funding for the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Botswana to achieve is mandate.

Gofhamodimo made the remarks during the MISA Botswana Golf Day held in Gaborone Golf Club on Friday (March15). The event grouped corporate sector and members of the MISA Botswana in effort to raise funds for the organisation.

Gofhamodimo said MISA Botswana as any other non-profit making organisation is faced with a challenge of securing sustainable funding to fulfill its challenges. She said initiatives such as the MISA Golf Day are therefore critical as they are alternative method of supporting the media beyond donor funding. Gofhamodimo said as a non-profit making organisation, MISA Botswana has historically relied on donor funding which can be unpredictable and unsustainable.

“Coming together to support this event can help ensure that MISA Botswana has the resources to continue its vital work. There is no denying the importance of the media in modern day life. The media capacity to disseminate information about government policies, programs and many other initiatives in a variety of formats has huge developmental impacts,” said Gofhamodimo.

The Assistant Minister further appreciated the role MISA Botswana plays in advocating for media freedom, freedom of expression and access to information in Botswana. She highlighted that as the media landscape in Botswana continues to evolve, MISA Botswana has ensured that the media remains independent.

She the government is committed to promoting press freedom in the country. Gofhamodimo said therefore the government wants a system of media that is passionate to report the news and fairly as she said arising misinformation is a concern. She therefore appealed to media houses to guard against the phenomenon and be responsible and accountable in their reporting.

Gofhamodimo also said Botswana has made strides in the Free Press Index by jumping 35 places to 65th spot between 2021 and 2022. For her part, MISA Botswana Vice President, Tshireletso Stoffel said she appreciated the involvement of the private sector and government in the festivities of the day. Stoffel said MISA Botswana pledges to work with all the stakeholders to ensure the organisation has enough funding to achieve its mandate.

“NGO’s in Botswana are faced with a challenge to survive due to lack of internatinal funding which was pulled back due to the country’s middle income status of which is striving towards high income status. This event is one of many which MISA Botswana will host in order try to increase the little that we have as well as preparations for the World Press Freedom Day,” said Stoffel.