WINDHOEK, Namibia – Directorate of Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC) officers raided the Botswana Gazette offices shortly after 14h00 on May 6, 2015, with a warrant to confiscate computers and documents of the organisation. The publisher and managing editor of The Botswana Gazette, Shike Olsen, told MISA Botswana that the warrant presented by the agents was vague and did not state what it was they were looking for. The agents later retreated when confronted by lawyers of the organization.
The following day (May 7), DCEC officers returned and placed under arrest Shike Olsen, acting Editor Lawrence Seretse and the journalist Innocent Selatlhwa. It later became evident that the arrests were related to an article published by the Gazette, titled “DCEC foils Chitube, Reatile and Moumakwa’s alleged P150 million oil deals”. The article linked a deported Zambian national, Jerry Chitube, to illegal activities for Botswana’s intelligence arm, the Directorate on Intelligence and Security Services (DISS), and the ruling Botswana Democratic Party.
The three Gazette employees were arrested and detained for almost five (5) hours inside the holding cells of the DCEC. Their lawyer, Joao Salbany was also arrested and detained,but at a different location at Mogoditshane Police Station.
MISA Botswana has been very vocal about its disdain for the treatment of the media professionals. MISA Botswana Director Buyani Zongwani said the unfortunate drama happened three days after the country joined the rest of the world in commemorating the 2015 World Press Freedom Day under the theme, ‘Let journalism thrive! Towards better reporting, gender equality in the digital age’.
“How can journalism thrive when the so-called beacon of democracy in Africa violates press freedom recklessly?” queried Zongwan.
He said MISA Botswana condemns the latest act by the country’s security agents, and called on the government to respect press freedom.
WHAT TO TAKE AWAY FROM THIS ARTICLE:
- MISA Botswana Director Buyani Zongwani said the unfortunate drama happened three days after the country joined the rest of the world in commemorating the 2015 World Press Freedom Day under the theme, ‘Let journalism thrive.
- The publisher and managing editor of The Botswana Gazette, Shike Olsen, told MISA Botswana that the warrant presented by the agents was vague and did not state what it was they were looking for.
- The article linked a deported Zambian national, Jerry Chitube, to illegal activities for Botswana’s intelligence arm, the Directorate on Intelligence and Security Services (DISS), and the ruling Botswana Democratic Party.
