Press Release by Office of the Ombudsman in response to Mmegi newspaper report

source: Republic of Botswana (22/4/09): TAUTONA TIMES no 11 of 2009
The Weekly Electronic Press Circular of the Office of the President
Democracy, Development, Dignity and Discipline

C6) 17/4/09: Press Release by Office of the Ombudsman in response to Mmegi newspaper report

The Office of the Ombudsman wishes to disassociate itself from the headline and content of a report entitled “Ombudsman Urges Action on Khama”, which appeared in 16th April 2009 edition of the Mmegi newspaper.

Both the headline and content of the said article misleadingly implied that the Ombudsman in his 2006-07 Annual Report had raised concern about Parliament’s silence on previous reports with specific reference to the issue of the piloting of military aircraft by the then Vice President.

In fact, the 2006-07 report makes absolutely no reference to the said issue at all.  Neither does it in anyway urge or recommend action on the issue as stated in the Mmegi newspaper article.

The case of the then Vice President’s use of military aircraft was last dealt with in a special report, which was submitted to the National Assembly in terms of Section 8(2) of the Ombudsman Act in April 2002.

We therefore wish to set the record straight that the article in question is misleading as to the actual contents of the 2006/07 Annual Report.

For more information please contact:
The Office of Ombudsman Public Relations Unit.
TEL: 3953322. Fax: 395 3539. Website: www.ombudsman.org.bw/