26 Jan 2017

The Ministry of Defence, Justice and Security would like to respond to the front-page article published in the Botswana Gazette Newspaper of Wednesday 25 -31 January 2017 titled ‘Dukwi Refugee Camp faces close down’ by Boago Ramaphane.

1. The Ministry would like to inform members of the public that this news item which states that the Dukwi Refugee Camp is about to close down is false, unfounded, misleading and in our view meant to cause unnecessary confusion and disorder in the public domain.

2. We therefore categorically distance ourselves from this deliberate misinformation and encourage the public to ignore such malicious and mischievous allegations.

3. Furthermore it should be noted that contrary, to the assertion that a questionnaire was sent two weeks ago, the Botswana Gazette only sent a questionnaire via email on Friday 20th January 2017 at 1029hrs.

4. The public is informed that there are no plans to close down Dukwi Refugee Camp. We once again appeal to the editors that it would be value adding for their profession if they could opt to publicise their stories based on facts and the truth.

5.  Ministry of Defence, Justice and Security has an active Public Relations which when questionnaires are sent on time make it a fact that they are responded to accordingly and that this track record can be attested to by colleagues in the media fraternity be it ;radio or newspapers. BGCIS