BBC World Questions coming to Botswana

On 17 September World Questions comes to Gaborone, Botswana for a vibrant debate in the heat of an election campaign.

Published: 3 September 2019
We are very excited to bring BBC World Questions to Botswana at such a significant moment for the country in the midst of an election campaign.
— Steve Titherington, Senior Commissioner, BBC World Service English

Botswana is an African success story - a stable democracy with a healthy economy based on diamonds and tourism.

In this October’s election, newly united opposition groups are fielding a single candidate to stand against a president whose party has been in office for 53 years. Worries about jobs, inequality, waste, corruption, and issues such as the country's elephant population, and the decriminalisation of homosexuality, give a sense of Botswana at a turning point - and both the opposition and the government are promising change.  

The BBC's Toyosi Ogunseye will be joined by a panel of leading politicians and thinkers, as well as an audience of the public in the country's capital.  The debate will be led entirely by questions from the audience, who will also be asked their views on some of the major topics. A radio recording of the event will be broadcast internationally.

Have your say in a debate that will be heard around the world. 

Chairing the debate at Botswana Craft at 6pm, the BBC’s Toyosi Ogunseye will be joined on the panel by:

  • Dorcas Makgato MP, Minister of Transport and Communications for the Republic of Botswana
  • Spencer Mogapi, Deputy Editor of The Sunday Standard
  • Tumi Mbaakanyi, Businesswoman and former President of Women in Business Botswana
  • Dumelang Saleshando, Deputy President of Umbrella for Democratic Change

This international series of events is created in partnership with the British Council worldwide.

Steve Titherington, Senior Commissioning Editor, BBC World Service English says: “We are very excited to bring BBC World Questions to Botswana at such a significant moment for the country in the midst of an election campaign. We’re eager to bring to the fore the topics that really matter to the people of Botswana. Discussion and debate is at the heart of the World Service, and our event in Gaborone will allow people to have their voices heard by listeners around the world, and put their questions directly to our panel."

Notes to Editors
BBC World Questions will be recorded in English on 17 September at Botswana Craft, Gaborone at 6pm.

The public can apply for FREE tickets to join in the debate and be part of the audience here.

The BBC World Service is holding a series of debates across the world. BBC World Questions allows the public to question politicians, leaders and opinion formers face to face. The debates are led entirely by questions from the audience, who are able to have their points heard around the world.

BBC World Questions: Gaborone will air on BBC World Service shortwave radio on 21 September at 8pm local time, and will be available to listen to on bbc.com/worldserviceradio. It will also be available online afterwards on the BBC World Questions website.  

For press accreditation to attend the debate and interview requests for Toyosi Ogunseye please contact: mesh.moeti@yahoo.co.uk

TC

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