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Botswana: DCEC Courts Editors
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The Voice (Francistown)
11 March 2008
Posted to the web 11 March 2008
Moses Maruping
Francistown
The man at the helm of the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC), Tymon Katlholo, has vowed to improve relations between his institution and the media.
Speaking at an Editor's Breakfast meeting, which was held under the theme "Cultivating Positive DCEC-Media Relationships", Katlholo said his institution would improve on the way they give information, but first there has to be a development of trust between one another.
He noted that the meeting was organized against the backdrop that combating corruption, or perhaps reducing it, to manageable levels requires a broad range of integrated long term painstaking and concerted efforts.
The DCEC boss said the fight against corruption is not about blame, saying everyone has a role to play.
"Whilst we are expected to be transparent in the way we do things, there are some limitations that have been deliberately, and for a good purpose, put in place to strike a balance between being transparent and confidentiality. Some such limitations are entrenched in the Constitution."
He said that the very same constitution that gives the citizen the right to inform or to be informed, also gives the same the right to dignity and privacy.
He said in execution of its duties, DCEC strives to strike a balance.
"The need to protect the integrity of an investigation, especially during the early stages, when we have not reached the 'possible cause' or prevalence of evidence stage of the investigation is one critical area where the rules of practice expect us to be economic with words on what we can say. It's never our intention to seem unhelpful as many of you might perceive us."
However small the matter, Katlholo stressed that corruption is not a joke, adding that no amount of corruption should be treated with kids' gloves, regardless of who is involved.
"If I'm allowed to borrow your description, 'whether it involves the so-called big fish or small fish', corruption threatens our very existence. No amount of triviality with regard to corruption should be used as a yard stick, because the consequences of corruption are the same. They're devastating, debilitating and sometimes can be too gustily to contemplate."
Katholo's worry is that any form of corruption erodes the economic, social and other developmental achievements and prospects.
Explaining the law enforcement agency's mandate and operations, Assistant Director - Public Education, Poppy Monyatsi, said both the DCEC and the media need each other to execute their professional duties.
She said this could only be achieved when the information given to the media is reported in an accurate and mature manner thus building an element of trust between the two.
"It is on this note that we feel it is imperative that we cultivate a symbiotic relationship with the media based on mutual trust. I'm not saying the DCEC should sleep with the media but we need to treat each other with respect."
Speaking on behalf of the media, Botswana Gazette Editor, Aubrey Lute, said in the past getting information from DCEC was like milking a bull as only the Director or his Deputy were at liberty to give out information to the media.
He said communication channels were not well defined and this in turn affected the quality of stories reported about the DCEC.
"I believe things have since improved as they now have the services of a PR officer who is our point of contact whenever we need information from the DCEC."
Though commendable, Lute advised the law enforcement agency to always release timely information, be willing to respond to media inquiries and should also give feedback on stories concerning the organization. He observed that limiting the media from reporting extensively about corruption is the lack of the Access to Information Act. "We're given leads as much as the DCEC is informed by whistle blowers, but at times reporters are frustrated by the fact that they know that they will not access certain documents as we are seen to be intruders."
He said another serious limitation is the perception which is given to the public about the media, especially the private press which is taunted as scandalous, fabricating lot, never tells the truth and invades privacy unnecessarily.
Other speakers, such as Outsa Mokone, said corruption has lost its news value due to the fact that many who were once accused of it are freely roaming our streets.
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The Sunday Standard Editor noted that many mainstream newspapers now focused more on human-interest stories, as stories on corruption don't sell anymore. "I don't see any woman in this room turning my advances down simply because I've been accused of corruption. I think what you need to do as the DCEC is to give your press releases a human interest angle."
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