Minister of Information, Communication, Science, Technology and Innovation Ms. Nthati Moorosi says Public Relations and Information Officers are supposed to tell the nation what is happening within Ministries not Ministers. These she said during the roundtable discussion which brought together Public Relations and Information Officers of different government ministries with the objective to discuss grievances that were raised by the participants in their previous meeting with the Minister as well as to make a three-month communications plan. Ms. Moorosi said she was aware that Ministers are interviewed by the media even on issues that should be answered by Public Relations Officers saying that is not right and tarnishes the image of Ministries.

She stated that due to her profession, she is one of the PROs and understands what should be done; indicating that a PRO is responsible to the Principal Secretary and the latter should introduce or inform the Minister about PRO’s role in handling government issues. One of the PRO’s Mr. Tumisang Mokoai said they are blessed to have a person of Ms. Moorosi’s calibre in their profession, emphasising that government issues must be disclosed by PRO’s.

He said the problem is that Ministers handle government issues differently because they are politicians, saying PRO’s are spin doctors of Ministries and are expected to inform the nation about government issues but Ministers believe it is right to talk on radios.He also said a three-month plan will serve a purpose as it will guide them on who should answer what.