Boko rubbishes Masisi’s state of emergency
Leader of the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) and Botswana National Front (BNF) Duma Boko has criticised President Mokgweetsi Masisi’s interventions put in place to curb the contagious and deadly COVID-19.
In 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic hit the country, president Masisi imposed the state of emergency to fight the plague. Initially, the state of emergency was to take six months, but in September parliament voted to extend the state of emergency.
The move passed through despite objection by opposition parties. The extension meant that president Masisi continued to rule by decree until March 2021, a full year since the pandemic hit the African continent. Masisi told special parliament that it was necessary to extend state of emergency. It was extended again in March this year, by another six months.
President Masisi said the state of emergency will be used solely for the purpose of fighting the spread of COVID-19. “It is my considered view that the extension of the state of emergency provides a better option to safeguard the lives of Botswana, while containing and controlling the disease,” Masisi said earlier this year.
MASISI ABUSED SOE POWERS
Boko has given Masisi’s notorious state of emergency (SoE) the third digit, saying that it hasn’t served its anticipated purposes. He claimed that it has resulted in the wide scale impoverishment of citizens.
“State of Emergency has resulted in runaway levels of corruption because of the over-centralization of decision making and award of tenders. It has basically given us a president who constitutionally has a wide power, but now under the SoE, operates in an untendered manner. Masisi is running loose in every sector, he is the single decision maker. So this has effectively suspended democratic decision making in the country,” Boko held.
Quizzed on which options president Masisi had on tackling the COVID-19 pandemic, Boko said it is crucial to descent to specifics so as to design together a means ends calculus.
“Having determined what the goals are, then we could have asked ourselves what the best means of achieving our goals are. Are the available legislative options not enough? If they are not, what manner can we orpiment them in order to achieve the goals that we want to achieve as a country. The public Health Act has a wide range of powers and instruments that can be used. and even where it would have determined that a SoE was required, it should have been precise in terms of what it is that will be suspended, operate and we would have narrowed down considerably and curb in the powers of the president. We did not do that so the result is an omnibus granted of powers to a single individual,” Boko said in an interview with the media.
UDC leader claims that president Masisi has entirely abused the state of emergency and the powers it granted him. Boko underscored that when one takes over all decision making, they end up making centralized decisions.
BOKO ON VACCINE ROLLOUT
On government’s effort to vaccine the population, Boko noted that initially, a large-scale COVID-19 rollout was to get the country back to its feet. He however said the country did not start off in a manner that it should have in rolling out the vaccine.
“The systemic challenges that are faced in relation to acquisition of vaccines are some of the elements that puts Botswana in a bad space as much as vaccination is concerned. African countries including Botswana are lacking radically behind in vaccinating populations. Just recently, Botswana was at just 2.9% and the rest of the countries are much lower than this scale. Even that, we will flatter to deceive because if you look at the levels of how many people have been vaccinated, you will realise that it’s a very low number. We needed to have had ourselves roll out on a large scale vaccination programme and that we still have to do.”
BOKO ON THE ECONOMY
The World Bank and the World Health Organization (WHO) organizations which have been at the forefront of the pandemic, held that only fully vaccinated population will be able to emerge from the pandemic. Boko shared that the future economically looks bleak because vaccination in the country is near to the ground.
“If we are vaccinating at the rate that we are doing now, we are looking at quite a long time to vaccinate the entire population. Unfortunately, we do not have the luxury of waiting that long. We need to get this economy ticking as soon as possible. Government needs to establish a coordinated and properly structured rollout of vaccines in the country and to acquire the vaccines. Has the state of emergency helped us roll out the vaccine? No it has not. This is something it should have at least achieved.”
MASISI ADDRESS ON TUESDAY
Meanwhile, president Masisi is expected to give a national address on Tuesday next week. This past week Masisi, in accordance with the emergency powers suspended with immediate effect the sale of alcohol.
The suspension of the sale of alcohol was attributed to the escalating COVID-19 cases and risks that come along with the virus. However, the country’s largest alcohol brewer Kgalagadi Breweries Limited (KBL) is challenging this decision by government to ban alcohol in court.
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Nigerians, Zimbabweans apply for Chema Chema Fund
Fronting activities, where locals are used as a front for foreign-owned businesses, have been a long-standing issue in Botswana. These activities not only undermine the government’s efforts to promote local businesses but also deprive Batswana of opportunities for economic empowerment, officials say. The Ministry of Trade and Industry has warned of heavy penalties for those involved in fronting activities especially in relation to the latest popular government initiative dubbed Chema Chema.
According to the Ministry, the Industrial Development Act of 2019 clearly outlines the consequences of engaging in fronting activities. The fines of up to P50,000 for first-time offenders and P20,000 plus a two-year jail term for repeat offenders send a strong message that the government is serious about cracking down on this illegal practice. These penalties are meant to deter individuals from participating in fronting activities and to protect the integrity of local industries.
“It is disheartening to hear reports of collaboration between foreigners and locals to exploit government initiatives such as the Chema Chema Fund. This fund, administered by CEDA and LEA, is meant to support informal traders and low-income earners in Botswana. However, when fronting activities come into play, the intended beneficiaries are sidelined, and the funds are misused for personal gain.” It has been discovered that foreign nationals predominantly of Zimbabwean and Nigerian origin use unsuspecting Batswana to attempt to access the Chema Chema Fund. It is understood that they approach these Batswana under the guise of drafting business plans for them or simply coming up with ‘bankable business ideas that qualify for Chema Chema.’
Observers say the Chema Chema Fund has the potential to uplift the lives of many Batswana who are struggling to make ends meet. They argue that it is crucial that these funds are used for their intended purpose and not siphoned off through illegal activities such as fronting. The Ministry says the warning it issued serves as a reminder to all stakeholders involved in the administration of these funds to ensure transparency and accountability in their disbursement.
One local commentator said it is important to highlight the impact of fronting activities on the local economy and the livelihoods of Batswana. He said by using locals as a front for foreign-owned businesses, opportunities for local entrepreneurs are stifled, and the economic empowerment of Batswana is hindered. The Ministry’s warning of heavy penalties is a call to action for all stakeholders to work together to eliminate fronting activities and promote a level playing field for local businesses.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Trade and Industry’s warning of heavy penalties for fronting activities is a necessary step to protect the integrity of local industries and promote economic empowerment for Batswana. “It is imperative that all stakeholders comply with regulations and work towards a transparent and accountable business environment. By upholding the law and cracking down on illegal activities, we can ensure a fair and prosperous future for all Batswana.”
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Merck Foundation and African First Ladies mark World Health Day 2024
Merck Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany marks “World Health Day” 2024 together with Africa’s First Ladies who are also Ambassadors of MerckFoundation “More Than a Mother” Campaign through their Scholarship and Capacity Building Program. Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation emphasized, “At Merck Foundation, we mark World Health Day every single day of the year over the past 12 years, by building healthcare capacity and transforming patient care across Africa, Asia and beyond.
I am proud to share that Merck Foundation has provided over 1740 scholarships to aspiring young doctors from 52 countries, in 44 critical and underserved medical specialties such as Oncology, Diabetes, Preventative Cardiovascular Medicine, Endocrinology, Sexual and Reproductive Medicine, Acute Medicine, Respiratory Medicine, Embryology & Fertility specialty, Gastroenterology, Dermatology, Psychiatry, Emergency and Resuscitation Medicine, Critical Care, Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Neonatal Medicine, Advanced Surgical Practice, Pain Management, General Surgery, Clinical Microbiology and infectious diseases, Internal Medicine, Trauma & Orthopedics, Neurosurgery, Neurology, Cardiology, Stroke Medicine, Care of the Older Person, Family Medicine, Pediatrics and Child Health, Obesity & Weight Management, Women’s Health, Biotechnology in ART and many more”.
As per the available data, Africa has only 34.6% of the required doctors, nurses, and midwives. It is projected that by 2030, Africa would need additional 6.1 million doctors, nurses, and midwives*. “For Example, before the start of the Merck Foundation programs in 2012; there was not a single Oncologist, Fertility or Reproductive care specialists, Diabetologist, Respiratory or ICU specialist in many countries such as The Gambia, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Central African Republic, Guinea, Burundi, Niger, Chad, Ethiopia, Namibia among others. We are certainly creating historic legacy in Africa, and also beyond. Together with our partners like Africa’s First Ladies, Ministries of Health, Gender, Education and Communication, we are impacting the lives of people in the most disadvantaged communities in Africa and beyond.”, added Senator Dr. Kelej. Merck Foundation works closely with their Ambassadors, the African First Ladies and local partners such as; Ministries of Health, Education, Information & Communication, Gender, Academia, Research Institutions, Media and Art in building healthcare capacity and addressing health, social & economic challenges in developing countries and under-served communities. “I strongly believe that training healthcare providers and building professional healthcare capacity is the right strategy to improve access to equitable and quality at health care in Africa.
Therefore, I am happy to announce the Call for Applications for 2024 Scholarships for young doctors with special focus on female doctors for our online one-year diploma and two year master degree in 44 critical and underserved medical specialties, which includes both Online Diploma programs and On-Site Fellowship and clinical training programs. The applications are invited through the Office of our Ambassadors and long-term partners, The First Ladies of Africa and Ministry of Health of each country.” shared Dr . Kelej. “Our aim is to improve the overall health and wellbeing of people by building healthcare capacity across Africa, Asia and other developing countries. We are strongly committed to transforming patientcare landscape through our scholarships program”, concluded Senator Kelej.
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Interpol fugitive escapes from Botswana
John Isaak Ndovi, a Tanzanian national embroiled in controversy and pursued under a red notice by the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol), has mysteriously vanished, bypassing a scheduled bail hearing at the Extension 2 Magistrate Court in Gaborone. Previously apprehended by Botswana law enforcement at the Tlokweng border post several months earlier, his escape has ignited serious concerns.
Accused of pilfering assets worth in excess of P1 million, an amount translating to roughly 30,000 Omani Riyals, Ndovi has become a figure of paramount interest, especially to the authorities in the Sultanate of Oman, nestled in the far reaches of Asia.
The unsettling news of his disappearance surfaced following his failure to present himself at the Extension 2 Magistrate Court the preceding week. Speculation abounds that Ndovi may have sought refuge in South Africa in a bid to elude capture, prompting a widespread mobilization of law enforcement agencies to ascertain his current location.
In an official communiqué, Detective Senior Assistant Police Commissioner Selebatso Mokgosi of Interpol Gaborone disclosed Ndovi’s apprehension last September at the Tlokweng border, a capture made possible through the vigilant issuance of the Interpol red notice.
At 36, Ndovi is implicated in a case of alleged home invasion in Oman. Despite the non-existence of an extradition treaty between Botswana and Oman, Nomsa Moatswi, the Director of the Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP), emphasized that the lack of formal extradition agreements does not hinder her office’s ability to entertain extradition requests. She highlighted the adoption of international cooperation norms, advocating for collaboration through the lenses of international comity and reciprocity.
Moatswi disclosed the intensified effort by law enforcement to locate Ndovi following his no-show in court, and pointed to Botswana’s track record of extraditing two international fugitives from France and Zimbabwe in the previous year as evidence of the country’s relentless pursuit of legal integrity.
When probed about the potential implications of Ndovi’s case on Botswana’s forthcoming evaluation by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), Moatswi reserved her speculations. She acknowledged the criticality of steering clear of blacklisting, suggesting that this singular case is unlikely to feature prominently in the FATF’s assessment criteria.