Photograph — Bloomberg

Botswana’s President Mokgweetsi Masisi has proposed extending the country’s COVID-19 state of emergency to last six months. Consequently, Botswana’s parliament will convene on Wednesday, April 8, 2020, to deliberate on Masisi’s proposal.

“I will cause, therefore, to be a meeting of parliament at which I will seek the endorsement of parliament to extend the state of public emergency for a total period of six months,” Masisi said. The President of Botswana added that the extension is “for the single purpose of dealing with COVID-19 and is totally based on the signs available likewise the advice gotten from our experts.”

While revealing his reason behind the prolonged state of emergency, Masisi stated that people are not complying with mandated movement restrictions which aims at curbing further spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. Initially, Masisi declared a 28-day lockdown from April 2 to April 30 after the southern African country witnessed its first case of coronavirus which currently tallies at six cases, including one death as of last week. However, Masisi stated that Botswana’s best defense against COVID-19 is a ‘robust preventative strategy’.

However, critics complain that if the plan is initiated, it would place a great deal of power in the hands of the president. Under the state of emergency, the president will hold absolute power. Local political analyst Lawrence Ookeditse in an interview with Voice Of America (VOA) argues that such a move would pose a risk to the country’s democracy.

“For a republic, for democracy and for a country in which the leading president and leading party won an election on the basis of the rule of law, I think it’s too long a period of time,” Ookeditse said. Although Masisi said the rule of law will be respected during the state of emergency, Ookeditse went on to say that the duration (six months) “brings in a period of instability and uncertainty,” and should therefore not be trifled with. 

With Masisi’s ruling party in control of the National Assembly, after winning 38 of the 57 parliament seats in last October’s general election, there is a likelihood that the parliament will endorse Masisi’s proposal.  

Nevertheless, the possibilities of severe economic implications as a result of the prolonged state of emergency and lockdown should not be overlooked. With unbudgeted resources poured into tackling the spread of coronavirus in Botswana it is indisputable that longer lockdowns risk a slower economic recovery. The extended state of emergency in Botswana will disrupt people’s daily lives which will interfere with their income, delay investment and lead to an overall economic loss. 

In order to avoid a sharp economic decline with ineluctable financial consequences, the government of Botswana may need to consider reducing the 6-month time-frame. By so doing, the economy will be able to recuperate after the COVID-19 pandemic comes to an end.

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