Established in April 2004, the Department of Information Services (DIS) operates under the Ministry for Presidential Affairs, Governance and Public Administration. It comprises two principal divisions: the Botswana Press Agency (BOPA) and a Publications Unit. BOPA was set up in 1981 to bolster the flow of information in response to calls from African governments for the creation of indigenous news agencies. The Publications Unit manages two key state media outlets: the Daily News (a government-run daily newspaper) and Kutlwano magazine.
Media assets
News agency: Botswana Press Agency (BOPA)
Print media: Daily News, Kutlwano
State Media Matrix Typology
Ownership and governance
The Department of Information Services is a government agency embedded within the Ministry for Presidential Affairs. All senior positions and editorial appointments are filled by the government, in accordance with the Public Service Act.
There is no independent board or governance body overseeing its operations. Instead, DIS remained firmly under the direction of the executive branch, with no provisions in place for autonomy or editorial insulation from political influence.
In April 2025, the government announced an organisational assessment of both DIS and DBS to clarify roles and career progression. DIS reportedly had 258 staff (versus a budgeted 276), with many on stagnant C1 salaries for over a decade—delays impacting morale and advancement
Source of funding and budget
DIS is overwhelmingly reliant on state subsidies. The most recent official figures show that it received:
- BWP 64.9 million (approx. US$ 5.6 million) in 2018
- BWP 73.4 million (approx. US$ 6.1 million) in the fiscal year ending March 2020
These allocations represent nearly 90% of the department’s total budget. Although limited advertising is accepted through its publications, commercial revenue remains negligible. As of June 2025, no updated budget figures have been released, and transparency regarding the department’s financial operations remains low.
Editorial independence
Despite public statements affirming a commitment to balanced and informative journalism, the Department of Information Services operates squarely within the confines of government directives. Its editorial line is shaped by its official mandate: to promote government policies and priorities. Independent media observers consistently describe BOPA, Daily News, and Kutlwano as unambiguously pro-government in tone and content.
Notably, BOPA content is syndicated across state-run platforms such as Radio Botswana and Botswana Television (BTV), further extending the government’s communication reach across print and broadcast. This content is not subject to regulation by the Botswana Communications Regulatory Authority (BOCRA), which oversees private media entities.
There is no statutory framework guaranteeing the editorial independence of DIS or its outlets, nor any independent oversight body tasked with monitoring or evaluating content standards. While the Office of the Ombudsman occasionally raises concerns about media bias or maladministration, such interventions are sporadic and lack enforcement authority.
June 2025