The Botswana government has announced new restrictions on the commercial use of President Duma Boko’s image, stating that prior approval from his office is now required for any promotional or paid event materials featuring the head of state.
Presidential spokesperson Emang Mutapati confirmed the directive on Thursday, noting that organisations must seek formal authorisation before using the president’s likeness for commercial purposes.
“Organisations seeking to use the president’s image commercially must obtain approval from the Office of the President, Press Office to ensure compliance with guidelines,” Mutapati said.
The move is aimed at safeguarding the dignity of the presidency and ensuring proper coordination of public communications.
Requests must be submitted once the president’s attendance at an event is confirmed through his private office.
Upon approval, an official authorisation slip will be issued for verification.
The announcement comes amid growing public interest in President Boko’s appearances following his inauguration last November, which marked a historic shift in Botswana’s political landscape.
The directive does not affect editorial or news-related use of the president’s image, which remains governed by standard media and copyright protocols.
Source:APA News