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Ministers, MPs gang up against Gov’t over COVID vaccination

Cabinet members and backbenchers have this week, in a rare development, closed ranks and joined a national bandwagon calling for President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi to accelerate the Covid-19 vaccination roll-out programme.

The lamentation by the party members which was directed to and pinned the party Chairman Slumber Tsogwane and Health Minister Dr. Edwin Dikoloti against the wall, was demanding answers on the slow Covid-19 vaccination ramping. This came to the fore from BDP weekly caucus this past Wednesday, sources highlight.

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During the party caucus, Vice President Slumber Tsogwane and Dr Edwin Dikoloti were at the receiving end, as MPs, including members of the cabinet questioned the efficiency of government vaccine rollout programme.

As Covid-19 continues to ravage the country, causing strain on the country’s health care systems, various quarters, among them trade unions and opposition parties have started calling for government to up the ante in vaccination roll-out.

It is this pressure that has seen cabinet and ordinary MPs closing ranks, leading to a converging view on the burning issue of vaccine rollout.

The vaccinated populace currently is around 4.6 per cent of the whole population — something that BDP MPs find not acceptable for a country of Botswana’s reputation, that is envied by its peers across the globe for its virtues.

“We should be serious about vaccinating our people because the situation out there is very dire,” Chief Whip Liakat Kablay said.

In fact, the party members are reported to have asked Minister Dikoloti why Batswana are suffering while it is represented in World Health Organisation (WHO).

Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, a Motswana, is the first woman to be elected as WHO Regional Director for Africa. To the BDP MPs, if the government was serious from the onset, she could have long been persuaded to assist drive loads of consignment to her native country to save her compatriots.

The numbers of daily recorded positive cases and the subsequent deaths in Botswana have reached the highest numbers in the graph.

Of late the virus has taken the lives of the youth and the situation is made worse by the health facilities, both public and Botswana tertiary hospital. Sir Ketumile Masire Teaching Hospital has the capacity of 115 but currently has 93 patients admitted, according to health Minister assistant Sethomo Lelatisitswe.

Not only that, Princess Marina which has bed capacity of 83 has 86 patients and Nyangabgwe Hospital admitting 47 out of 16 beds, are now incapacitated to admit more patients.

Legislators, sources say, demanded that some of the un-utilized government buildings across the country gathering dust be used to curb the spread of the virus.

“Our facilities cannot take more patients anymore but the numbers are soaring, as ruling party we should ensure that some of the buildings be used as isolation centers to avoid keeping people at their houses without any medical attention. Those buildings should be installed with all the necessities like respirators to save the lives of the people,” added Kablay.

It is not clear as to what would be next in dealing with the virus except that the VP assured the party members that, “We are on it.”

If wishes were horses for the legislators, they would even stop a number of developments in this financial year and channel the funds in procurement of the doses.

“There is no use to push some developments while our people are dying. It does not make sense so the government now should prioritize accordingly,” cautioned one party member.

DO AWAY WITH AGE BRACKETS AND VACCINATE ANYONE

The latest statistics by Assistant Minister Lelatisitswe, revealed that 18 120 of those targeted for the first phase of vaccination, did not come for the second jab. This, is part of the reason why, the MPs suggested to the Minister that everyone available be vaccinated irrespective of the age brackets. The protagonists of this pin their arguments on the fact that, the current delta variant does not discriminate according to age hence the government must also avoid classifying the population. Besides, this could curb incidents of vaccine expiring in the storage facilities as the targeted age-group shuns the dose, argue the MPs.

GOV’T TO DEPLOY DOCTORS PER REGION FOR MONITORING

From the meeting the Minister is said to have assured the MPs that government will deploy doctors across all the regions nationwide.

This is said to be aimed at ensuring monitoring especially at some far-flung areas with health posts.

“Some constituencies do not have even a pharmacy, you only get Vitamin C tablets. So we cry that medications reach those areas because the habitants are more vulnerable and the arrival of doctors overseeing the whole region would greatly assist,” said Kablay, who is also MP for Letlhakeng-Lephepe.

The plan according to the MPs, will see the selected doctors working hand-in-hand with matrons and superintendents across hospitals.

HEALTH MINISTRY NEGOTIATES WITH VACCINE MANUFACTURES

From the meeting, reports say some of the fed up legislators even suggested that Botswana government should take notes from South Africa who have concluded talks with pharmaceutical producer, Pfizer.

The deal will see Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine produced in Cape Town by South Africa’s Biovac Institute. What is so difficult to do the same here? BDP MPs asked Minister Dikoloti and Tsogwane.

Although no clear answers came through except assurance that the government will benchmark, Assistant Minister Lelatisitswe this week announced that the government is in talks with vaccine manufactures.

“We have started negotiations with some manufactures but I cannot reveal more because it is at a very infant stage,” he said on Thursday.

MASISI SAYS COVAX SWINDLED BOTSWANA

In his tours to various health facilities this week to appreciate the vaccine rollout programme, President Mokgweetsi Masisi is on record saying the vaccine is very expensive and very scarce revealed how COVAX facility failed Botswana.

“As third world nations we poured money on COVAX to buy only to learn that they are tricking us, there is nothing. We now have to look for funds and buy the available vaccines,” Masisi told residents of Ramotswa on Thursday afternoon.

COVAX, is a worldwide initiative aimed at equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines directed by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), and the World Health Organization (WHO).

It is one of the three pillars of the Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator, an initiative begun in April 2020 by the WHO, the European Commission, and the government of France as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

COVAX coordinates international resources to enable low-to-middle-income countries equitable access to COVID-19 tests, therapies, and vaccines. By 15 July 2020, 165 countries – representing 60% of the human population – had joined COVAX.

As of 11 April 2021, COVAX has delivered 38.5 million doses, falling well short of 100 million promised doses by the end of March 2021. And as of 6 July 2021, 100 million doses have been delivered.

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BOMU, DBS roadshow partners in crime

18th March 2024

The Department of Broadcasting Services (DBS) roadshow has found and trusted the Botswana Musicians Union (BOMU) as a companion it could trust in empowering and facilitating the creative sector, in particular, performing artists and musicians.

BOMU exits to ensure that musicians in Botswana are supported by all platforms and services that are aligned to what they do, which at most times is the production of music.

In 2023, the Union put together grand music awards prized at a whooping P3 million. Indeed, the man working behind the awards, Seabelo Modibe of Total Music Group understood the assignment. For the very first time, BOMU awards left an impressive mark, leaving people murmuring.

With that said and done, BOMU became a very important stakeholder in the on-going DBS roadshow. The relationship started in 2022 when the project was initiated. In this massive project, BOMU plays a role of mobilizing and registering new artists.

In the previous years, the Union has been clouded by dispute and back-and-forth. It was accused of being bungling, purposeless and served no interests of its members (artists). Following the effective execution of the eleventh music awards, artists progressively joined BOMU and the DBS roadshow added cherry on top.

Some of the artists who made it to the Top 30 of the DBS roadshows much-admired the platform, saying it played a major part in changing their lives. Some of them started getting booked, changed their mindsets and consider music as a business entity.

These are some of the few nuggets of wisdom they raked from the man behind the roadshow, Thato Sikwane. He is known as DJ Fresh in the music sector and his company, Big Dawg Productions is the brainchild behind the DBS roadshow.

Matter of fact, DJ Fresh and Modibe worked on this concept together with an aim of unearthing new talent in as much as music is concerned. In order to achieve this goal, the duo had to engage BOMU to allow for the artists to have a body that governs them.

When speaking in an interview with WeekendLife, BOMU Secretary General Rasina Rasina said the roadshow is actually a blessing in disguise, as it was initially considered a tall show.

“This is a much-needed platform for a sector that has been deteriorating over the years. We believe it is here to resurrect the music industry. The DBS roadshow cultivate talent from scratch and nurtures it. This will help us as a Union to have a solid foundation and as BOMU, as we are highly appreciative.”

Rasina said BOMU is very much aware of Season One challenges, adding that they too experienced them. “As BOMU, we therefore appreciate that it was the beginning. Naturally, beginnings have challenges but we are optimistic that everything will be in order as together as a team, we can work to solve all pressing matters that delay the progress of artists in Botswana.”

Successful artists during the DBS roadshow will reap from what they sow. BOMU has been allocated a budget to help artists access the roadshow. Rasina has however refused to divulge the total amount but specified that they ensure artist participation and mobilization, as well as feeding.

“We have learnt from past challenges. We do not pay artists but we assist them with transportation funds to mobilize them to attend the roadshow and showcase. What we offer them is not payment. We ensure their participation, transport mobilization and feeding. They compete, showcase and get the platform they need. We partner with them to deliver a product. Essentially, there is a car, a record deal, airtime deal and cohesion.”

Thus far and during the Season 2 roadshow, BOMU has registered an average of five hundred (500) members. In the process, it has managed to rebuild an average of ten BOMU District chapters nationwide.

Rasina commended the government for coming up with a project that caters for the welfare of artists and creative minds in Botswana.

“Our expectations from the next season is that it will be bigger and better. We appreciate the contribution of DBS and the recent focus towards the creative industry by government. Importantly, it is important to note that the creative industry should never be treated from a blanket approach view. Every region, district, village or town has its own talent. The heritage of Botswana is defined by the creative industry talent.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Report links child poverty to disability

12th March 2024

Child poverty is a pressing issue that affects millions of children around the world, and the link between child poverty and disability is a particularly concerning aspect of this problem. The recent research paper published by the Botswana Institute for Development Policy Analysis (BIDPA) sheds light on the stark reality that children with disabilities are more likely to be living in poverty compared to their non-disabled peers.

The findings of the research paper reveal that children with disabilities face higher levels of deprivation in basic capabilities such as education and health. This means that they are often excluded from essential services and opportunities that are necessary for their well-being and development. The wider gap in education outcomes between children with disabilities and their non-disabled peers highlights the systemic barriers that prevent children with disabilities from accessing quality education.

Moreover, the higher rates of deprivation in health and food security among children with disabilities further exacerbate their vulnerability to illness and malnutrition. This not only impacts their physical well-being but also hinders their overall development and potential. The research paper also highlights the economic disparities faced by children with disabilities, indicating that they are more likely to experience poverty across demographic and economic variables.

The implications of these findings are profound and call for urgent action to address the inequalities faced by children with disabilities. Affirmative action is needed to ensure that policies and interventions are specifically targeted towards addressing the unique needs of children with disabilities. It is crucial to prioritize the inclusion and empowerment of children with disabilities in all aspects of society to ensure that they have equal opportunities to thrive and succeed.

In conclusion, the link between child poverty and disability is a critical issue that requires immediate attention and action. It is essential for policymakers, stakeholders, and communities to come together to create a more inclusive and equitable society where all children, regardless of their abilities, have the opportunity to reach their full potential. By addressing the root causes of poverty and discrimination faced by children with disabilities, we can work towards building a more just and compassionate world for all.

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Botswana’s internet rated the second fastest in Africa

8th March 2024

Botswana continues to make significant strides in its digital trasnformation aspirations, as it secures its position among the top-ranking African countries for mobile internet speed. Based on statistics from the Speedtest Global Index, Botswana has been rated the second fastest mobile internet speed in the continent, with an impressive 43.79Mbps, according to a recent study by Business Insider Africa.

This accomplishment demonstrates Botswana’s dedication to improving the quality of broadband internet in the country; and re-affirms its position as a leader in Africa’s telecommunications and ICT services. “The acknowledgment of Botswana’s internet as the 2nd fastest in Africa reflects our commitment to cultivating a digitally inclusive society,” remarked Mr. Keabetswe Segole, Acting CEO of Botswana Fibre Networks (BoFiNet). “This achievement highlights our ongoing endeavors to enable all citizens to participate in the digital economy.” BoFiNet, the leading provider of telecommunications infrastructure in Botswana, has been instrumental in shaping the nation’s digital landscape.

Reflecting on BoFiNet’s contribution to Botswana’s digital connectivity, the Acting CEO stated:”BoFiNet takes pride in its role in securing Botswana’s position as the 2nd fastest country in Africa for mobile internet. Our robust fibre optic and microwave network has been pivotal in delivering high-speed connectivity to both urban and rural areas, ensuring access to reliable internet services for all citizens. We remain committed to fostering innovation and digital inclusion, thereby paving the way for a prosperous digital future in Botswana.” Through the recently launched SmartBots Village Connectivity project, 1,138 premises across 144 villages in different Botswana districts are able to connect to this fast internet.

Botswana’s population is utilising connectivity creatively as a result of a boom in mobile penetration, which is advancing the nation’s digitalisation. Rapid advancements in mobile high-speed internet are causing a digital revolution in Africa, bringing about changes in areas including the economy, education, healthcare, and empowerment.

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