Let me, therefore, thank the Institute for Labour and Employment Studies for recognising MISA Botswana Chapter as one of the stakeholders in this noble endeavour for not only does it underscore the role of media in information dissemination but also highlights the need for an informed media.
That being said, I think all of us here will agree with me that it goes without saying that the media plays a pivotal role in informing and educating society. We are aware that employment opportunities and notices regarding changes in companies are communicated through our media platforms.
The thrust today is information sharing and MISA believes that such will enable the media in Botswana to understand the labour environment if it is to report accurately on labour issues in the country.
To this end, a training like this, comes at the right time to empower the media on the need to report factually, accurately and without bias on labour issues.
This will further help labour organisations to develop partnerships with the media on communicating labour market issues in Botswana.
It is imperative, therefore, to understand the role that media plays as a platform for cross-fertilization of ideas.
With the advent of new media and digital media, everyone is now a journalist. People are able to share information in real time without having to wait for a journalist who might be busy with another story somewhere else.
As much as this might be a welcome development in that it bridges the information gap, the downside is the proliferation of fake news which leads to misinformation and disinformation.
I am afraid that in the case of labour issues, this has the potential to distort the labour environment and cause chaos besides disempowering both employees and employers.
I am happy, therefore, that we are meeting here today to share information which will help all stakeholders to map out strategies through which the media can be of good service to the labour movement.
One of the objectives this dialogue is to create understanding of media coverage of labour market issues by labour market institutions.
Key to this is development of partnerships with the media on communicating labour market issues in Botswana.
This cannot be over-emphasised because it is through such partnerships that dissemination of accurate and reliable information can be guaranteed.
Distinguished guests, following the onslaught occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic, a lot of firms across the world, including Botswana embarked on retrenchments and restructuring their entities. But the question is: has our local media covered such properly?
Reporting on issues like retrenchments, unfair dismissals, suspensions and strikes at workplaces calls for all of us to be sober minded, give all parties an opportunity to respond and be knowledgeable on the processes thereto.
In conclusion, therefore, I wish to thank the Institute for Labour and Employment Studies for creating this platform because it will go a long way in helping labour institutions and the media to come to a common ground when reporting on labour market issues.
Thank you for affording me this opportunity to set the scene for this important dialogue and wish you fruitful discussions for the next two days.
THOMAS NKHOMA* is MISA Botswana chapter chairperson.
