Exiting the State of Emergency?
Decision hinges on Science and Disease Burden- Minister Morwaeng
Minister for Presidential Affairs, Governance and Public Administration, Kabo Morwaeng says with the decreasing number of COVID- 19 cases, there might not be a need for extension of State of Public Emergency ( SoE). The State of Public Emergency was passed in line with Section 17 of the Constitution of the Republic of Botswana for the purpose of mitigating the negative impact of COVID- 19. Since its declaration in April 2020, Morwaeng said measures are continuously being put in place and adjusted in line with the evolving nature of the disease. “To this effect, Government has been implementing Sectorial Plans facilitated by Ministries, Departments, and Agencies. “I am happy that we are now beginning to realise positive results. The current statistics are raising our hopes as according to the Ministry of Health and Wellness, during the first half of August 2021, 10,057 cases were recorded across all zones, which is a 24 percent decrease from the preceding week. “This is the first time we witness a decline in the number of new infections,” he told Parliament. He added that the number of active cases which has been fluctuating over time now appears to have dropped from a peak of 17,358 on the 6th of August to 12,798 as of the 10th of August 2021. The Minister explained that the advent of COVID- 19 has exposed specific gaps in the capabilities of laws, policies, and regulations, in managing the pandemic. As such, he said a holistic assessment of the laws, to determine their adequacy or otherwise in managing COVID- 19, is ongoing. The assessment of these laws according to the Minister will result in the required amendments. “This process will ensure that we have Covid- specific legislation across the sectors. Botswana is in the second State of Public Emergency. “As I have already alluded, work has been ongoing to prepare for exiting the State of Emergency, as that is the ideal and ultimate intention. “Indeed COVID- 19 has undeniable negative economic effects, which is the reason why we are doing everything possible to mitigate its impact”. Morwaeng pointed out that COVID- 19 also has negative consequences beyond economic ones. These he said include death, emotional trauma, and a strain on the health sector. “For this reason, as part of the Reset Agenda, we have prioritised saving lives of the citizenry,” Morwaeng, who is also MP for Molepolole South said.
“We hope for there to be no reason for an extension of the current State of Public Emergency, but, as earlier said, only science and the disease burden will inform us at the end of the current State of Public Emergency, as well as at any other point of need for decision making in future. “At the end of the day, it is this August House that will have a final say on whether or not to continue with the State of Public Emergency,” the minister said. Morwaeng was responding to a question from Taolo Lucas, MP for Bobonong who had asked the Minister what his Ministry is doing in preparation for the expiry of the State of Emergency in the month of September; if his Ministry would consider an amendment to existing laws or come up with specific COVID legislation to avert the imposition of the fourth State of Emergency in the country.