Abstract
Botswana citizens used to have public communication facilitated mainly at the customary meeting place known as the Kgotla. A large group of people would meet in a place common place that was designed within a community structure to chat on issues that concern them. As a result, the need to communicate information and progress made in society, including about the COVID-19 pandemic has become prevalent through electronic media spaces, such as broadcast television, mobile and social media. We examined the digital media outputs and platforms that were used in Botswana and compare some to those of Southern African neighboring countries. Our analyses of data indicate that the government of Botswana was able to come up with a Mobile application, a TV programme, establish social media pages an online newsletter and radio programmes. This information was crucial for citizens as they learnt about the COVID-19 virus, its dangers, impact and challenges in society, and empower them to make informed decisions to avoid it. To make informed decisions and whereas these platforms went a long to service members of society particularly those living in towns and villages where the Internet and broadcast signals were adequate, a majority of citizens in settlements and rural areas did not receive information due to lack of access to ICT. Although expansive for an average citizen, broadband Internet through mobile communication data became significantly useful in some instances.
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
2022 Special Focus—Democratic Disorder: Disinformation, the Media and Crisis in a Time of Change
KEYWORDS
COVID 19, DIGITAL MEDIA, BOTSWANA, GOVERNMENT, PUBLIC HEALTH, COMMUNICATION
