Ban travellers from India- BPP

Daniel Chida
CONCERNED: Kgafela-Mokoka

If she had her way, Botswana People’s Party’s Publicity Secretary, Nono Kgafela- Mokoka would have a ban declared on travellers from India as the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic continues to wreak havoc.

This appeared to be Mokoka’s bold stance this week, as just days after India’s double mutant Covid-19 variant- B.I.617 was detected in the Greater Gaborone, she accused government of showing a casual lack of concern.

Mokoka said that they were all privy to the fact that countries around the world have closed borders and airports to travellers from India to protect their nations from the new variant which originated in India and has brought health systems to to their knees. “In a press release of 17 MAY 2021 from the office of the Permanent Secretary (Ministry of Health and Wellness), it is clearly stated that the variant was detected on two travellers from India. Now the question is, “what is stopping the BDP government from prohibiting travellers from India from entering Botswana?” she asked.

Mokoka said that given the frightening surge of the raging pandemic, she wondered why the government is displaying nonchalance.

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“Such attitude can only show the BDP’s failure to place its citizens first. Ironically, the government’s only intervention to control- and not prevent the introduction of the new Covid-19 variants into the country is to urge Batswana to “remain vigilant and minimise the spread of Covid-19 by following preventive measures of washing hands with soap, wearing masks, avoiding crowded spaces, etc.”

Mokoka said that the BPP has been following the stipulated health protocols religiously and will continue to do so. “The only panacea to the raging new variant is to prohibit travellers from India from entering Botswana.”

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