marking a huge shift in leadership. Moeladilotlhoko, was arrested in November 2023 by the police allegedly for publishing unconfirmed reports about a ritual murder incident. Additionally, MISA-Botswana is now predominantly represented by women, with positions such as vice president, secretarygeneral, and treasurer held by women. Even though he has not been officially charged, Botswana police spokesperson, Near Bagali said at the time that Sethibe was arrested for interfering with investigations. This contrasts with the previous maledominated MISA-Botswana board. However, despite these advancements, challenges persist. Police did not clarify what constituted inference by a journalist but this remained a stark reminder about the treatment of journalists in Botswana. The working environment in newsrooms is generally unfavourable to women as it is characterised by low salaries and a lack of gender policies. Conclusion Incidents of harassment against female photographers, particularly in courts by accused individuals, have often been reported. The Media Practitioners’ Association (MPA) Act of 2022, while aiming to regulate journalism, risks stifling independent media due to the absence of robust civil society oversight. Women, who strive to break the glass ceiling and engage in accountability journalism, often face scrutiny and criticism. Concurrently, legislative attempts to expand state surveillance pose further threats to press freedom. Journalists working in smaller communities With insufficient resources to combat an increasingly intolerant political landscape, independent media organisations struggle to fulfil their watchdog role effectively. Local media organisations have been under threat for over two decades, but the COVID-19 pandemic created an extinction-level for local news media. Addressing these challenges necessitates not only legal reforms, but also concerted efforts to empower civil society and promote gender equality in media leadership. This has led to a proliferation of hyperlocal social media platforms. While this is good for diversity of news and dedicated local news angles, social media platforms often chase eyeballs and often do not abide by the same standards of ethical journalism. Only through safeguarding press freedom and fostering inclusive journalism can Botswana progress towards a more transparent, accountable, and democratic society. Most of them do not uphold fact-based news approaches to journalism. This raises concerns, including the spread of misinformation and the use of platform infrastructure to engage in disinformation campaigns. It is important to highlight significant hurdles that threaten press freedom including government control, legal constraints, and intimidation tactics. The emergence of generative AI tools and the proliferation of misinformation further threaten the integrity of elections and democratic processes. For example, in the 2019 general election social media platforms in Ghanzi North Constituency in western Botswana, were awash with stories that the BDP rigged the election with the help pf public servants. Furthermore, efforts to promote gender equality in media leadership and improve working conditions for female journalists are essential to fostering a diverse and inclusive media landscape. It was only after a court case that the matter was settled and the Member of Parliament for Ghanzi North, Noah Salakae lost the case. Journalists working in smaller communities also face similar threats from police and the intelligence agency. Tshepo Sethibe popularly known By working together to uphold press freedom and democratic principles, Botswana can strive towards a more transparent, accountable, and democratic society for all its citizens. as 31 STATE OF PRESS FREEDOM IN SOUTHERN AFRICA 2023