INK Centre for Investigative Journalism
The amaBhungane Centre for Investigative Journalism condemns the latest attack on independent media by the Botswana government.
Reporters from the INK Centre for Investigative Journalism were on Wednesday briefly detained by plain-clothes security agents, who threatened to kill them should they approach President Ian Khama’s holiday compound again.
This follows their attempts to uncover allegations of public money being used to build Khama a multi-million-Pula holiday home, in echoes of South Africa’s Nkandlagate scandal.
The Botswana Defence Force and other agencies are allegedly involved in constructing the private compound, and concealing this from the public.
AmaBhungane advocacy coordinator Karabo Rajuili said: “It is alarming that death threats have been issued to the reporters for doing their job. There are growing concerns about the rise in the harassment of independent media in Botswana, particularly from government security agents.”
INK, a non-profit, independent investigative journalism centre based in Botswana, partners with amaBhungane through a mutual support agreement.
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