THE AFRICAN STORY HAPPY!!HAPPY!! INDEPENDENCEINDEPENDENCE DAYDAY BOTSWANA!BOTSWANA!
ISSUE NUMBER 739 VOLUME 2 28 SEP - 04 OCTO 2020
Drone technology INSIDE BOTSWANA’S helps boost healthcare supply STATE OF EMERGENCY chains in Africa EXTENSION • Grappling with page 3 growing Covid-19 cases Botswana’s President Mokgweetsi Masisi Wealth in Africa: Home seeks to extend state of ownership looming Emergency by another 6 crisis months
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Brady Armstrong; Botswana’s Motorcycle Racing Virtuoso
page 16 2 Echo Report Echo Newspaper 28 Sep - 04 Octo 2020
THE AFRICAN STORY
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Head of Design Ame Kolobetso ‘Inside Botswana’s [email protected] Distribution & Circulation Mogapi Ketletseng [email protected] Echo is published by YMH Publishing State of Emergency YMH Publishing, Unit 3, Kgale Court, Plot 128, GIFP, Gaborone Postal address: P O BOX 840, Gaborone, Botswana extension’ Telephone: (267) 3933 805/6. E-mail: [email protected] www.echo.co.bw At a time when some of extension. One opposition from neighbouring South Africa. made an update in which he Botswana’s neighbours are member Dithapelo Keorapetse Currently Botswana is battling said non-essential movement DISCLAIMER: easing their State of Emergency of the main Opposition Umbrella local transmission which has accross zones will no longer be Echo Newspaper welcomes concise letters from readers. regulations and even exiting for Democratic Change has said seen number of cases and deaths tolerated, and that those who Letters must carry the completely, Botswana President he is opposed to the extension related deaths go up. had obtained permits should re full name and address of Mokgweetsi Masisi has sought because nothing was achieved The Coordinator of the apply as they were not valid. He the sender. Letters must to extend the country’s State which could not have been with country’s Covid-19 Task Team, Dr however then sent a press release conform to the laws of of Emergency by a further six a State of Emergency. Kereng Masupu said on Thursday the following day correcting Botswana and to the Press Council of Botswana’s Code months. “The only thing we saw was last week that local cases stood his initial statement and that Of Ethics. Letters will also be The National Assembly of unprecedented elite corruption,” at 1730, with 701 recovers permits will be given on a case edited for length, libel and Botswana meets today (Monday) he said. and 16 deaths. He said there by case basis, and the new travel language. to endorse President Mokgweetsi Botswana started off with were 1013 recoveries. Masupu protocols will be issued today. Masisi’s request to extent the very low cases of Covid-19 in indicated that the increase in The updates by the two State of Emergency by a further the region while its neighbours local transmission is attributed members if the Task Team six months to fight Covid-19, and cases skyrocketed. South Africa to people no adhering to covid was interpreted that to mean observers say is highly unlikely has seen its numbers cross the -19 protocols set out to control that another lockdown was that Parliament will reject the 600 000-half mark with over 16 the disease. Masupu the urged looming immediately after request. 000 deaths, becoming the fifth the nation to avoid unnecessary the endorsement of the SOE Masisi’s ruling Botswana in the world when it comes to travel as the Independence extension later today. Fears of Democratic Party (BDP) Covid-19. Holidays come up. another lock down was dismissed commands a majority in the The Botswana national Hard on the heals of an update by Tshipiyagae. country’s Parliament and Covid-19 Presidential task of the update by Masupu, on Read more Echo whatever the President seeks team had among other control Friday Director of Health Services stories on our endorsed get an outright support measures divided the country Dr Malaki Tshipiyagae also Facebook page by from his MPs. The Opposition into Covid zones and required in Parliament had rejected the people to apply for interzonal scanning the QR SOE that was effected in April, permits to travel, and also code below with arguing that the six months was emphasised on the observance your mobile phone too long to allow the President to of health protocols like washing rule under a state of emergency. of hands with soap, social They also posited that a State of distancing and making the Emergency could open room wearing of masks compulsory. for corrupt practices by the Local transmission was also government. There also have very low and contact tracing fears of encroachment on the civil in the country was seen to win liberties of the public as members the day. However, the numbers of the security forces are engaged started rising, most of which to enforce SOE regulations. were import cases reported at Some MP in the opposition the borders. These cases were have indicated that they are found on truck drivers who opposed the request for another were bringing essentials mainly Echo Newspaper 28 Sep - 04 Octo 2020 Echo Report 3
Since the drones do not include cameras, Nkosi says privacy is not an issue, and to date, there have been no safety problems. The drones are not operating within a 15km radius of an airport, he states. Nkosi believes that it is only a matter of time before many countries and communities adopt drones for deliveries, even in urban areas. He says that in the DRC’s capital Kinshasa, the blood transfusion service is exploring the use of drones for urgent deliveries of lifesaving blood due to the city’s poor infrastructure and traffic congestion. The inaugural Africa Supply Chain in Action Conference and Exhibition was one of Africa’s biggest online event for the Drone technology helps boost healthcare supply chain and procurement profession, bringing together hundreds of delegates from supply chains in Africa around the continent. “The Covid-19 crisis has put the Health workers serving story, a project focused on getting the DRC’s northwest province of motorcycle or 4 x 4 vehicle. spotlight on supply chains remote communities in the vaccines and supplies to hard- Équateur. “This is a province with Studies are underway to assess and pushed supply chain Democratic Republic of Congo to-reach rural communities, many geographical challenges. It the affordability of drones versus professionals to their limits. (DRC) must often undertake however, the applications of has 18 health districts, more than conventional transport in other Expertise in supply chain and a six-day return journey to drones in healthcare will extend half of which are only accessible areas. He notes that the drones procurement management, collect vaccines, traversing to congested cities, too. by river. This makes the supply being used can fly up to 80km logistics and distribution has dense tropical forests and often VillageReach is a non- chain and transportation of at a speed of up to 115km per never been more important the raging Congo River and its governmental organisation that is vaccines from the provincial hour. “The technology is still than it is today. The imperative tributaries. Drone technology is striving to improve communities’ storage to the remote health developing, so we can expect to ensure that businesses and offering a lifesaving solution to access to healthcare and life- storage facilities exceedingly fewer limitations in the future. economies can survive and thrive the challenges, including helping saving medicines and vaccines in difficult, especially during the While our drones can fly up to beyond Covid-19 gave rise to to ensure that cold chains are remote rural areas in developing rainy season when there is often 80km, we are setting up ‘refilling this important event and the maintained, and vaccine quality countries. In the DRC, with flooding.” stations’ to reach health facilities collaboration between co-hosts is not compromised. funding from Gavi (The Vaccine A round trip to the Équateur beyond 80km. Sapics and Smart Procurement,” In a presentation at the recent Alliance), VillageReach, in province, which involves taking For instance, if the health says Keabetswe Mpane, Sapics Africa Supply Chain in Action partnership with the Ministry a non-motorised boat down a facility is located 400km from president. virtual conference, which was of Health and the Civil Aviation river, can take up to six hours. the distribution centre or The event forms the foundation hosted by The Professional Body Authority of the DRC, is using The drones completed the one- warehouse, there will be five of the ASCAnation, which for Supply Chain Management drones to transport vaccines way journey in just 20 minutes. stations where the drone will will provide supply chain (Sapics) and Smart Procurement, and other supplies to isolated Nkosi explains that the drones land after 80km and the local professionals across Africa with Freddy Nkosi, DRC country villages and communities. are only being deployed for the team will change the battery to a platform from which their director for VillageReach, shared Nkosi says that the Drones for hardest to reach locations in the enable the drone to fly to the voices can be heard. the Drones for Health success Health project is being piloted in DRC, which are inaccessible by next station.” (Bizcom.) 4 Echo Report Echo Newspaper 28 Sep - 04 Octo 2020
provides for transitional arrangements. These enable the transfer to it of certain provisions from the EU-SADC EPA. These include, among others, customs matters concerning the protection of geographical indications. On the other hand, the UK is required to provide sufficient time for exporters from SACUM countries to adjust to new technical rules for manufactured goods in cases where those deviate from EU regulations. An agreement was also reached on a built-in agenda to address areas of interest in future that could not be resolved during the negotiations. These include market access issues, regional cumulation, export taxes, technical barriers to trade, geographical indications, and electronic certification.
Need for certainty There has been a great deal of anxiety on the part of SACUM countries about the final outcome South Africa and its neighbours anxious of the EU-UK trade talks, and the impact this will have on the trade relationship between about EU and UK post-Brexit talks SACUM nations and the UK. A deal between the EU and As the deadline for the post- rules of origin to fulfil in order for and Eswatini – plus Mozambique But, there were some issues the UK will help reinforce the Brexit trade talks between the products to obtain preferential (SACUM). The agreement in that needed further discussion certainty and continuity that the European Union (EU) and the market access. Rules of origin principle is that SACUM and and resolution. These are tariff- SACUM-UK agreement seeks to United Kingdom (UK) looms, refer to the criteria used to UK will carry over the terms of rate quotas, and the sourcing of achieve when the UK exits the concerns have arisen as to determine the national source the provisions of the EU-SADC inputs from across the EU region EU customs area. If the EU and whether the two parties will be of a product. The agreement EPA into a new bilateral trade into production for export. the UK are unable to agree on able to conclude a deal. In terms provides for trade remedies to agreement. The roll-over was There’s also the treatment of any deal, their trade relationship of the Brexit divorce agreement, tackle unfair trade practices. It intended to ensure continuity bilateral safeguard measures, will be regulated by the rules of the UK is expected to leave the EU also contains safeguard measures in trade ties after the UK had other transitional arrangements, the World Trade Organisation. single market and customs union to increase import duties in cases left the EU. geographical indications, and This means the UK will be treated on 1 January 2021. A trade deal where a surge in imports unduly Following two years of the built-in agenda. as any trading nation that does will govern future trade relations threatens to cause serious injury negotiations, a new agreement, SACUM countries are entitled not enjoy preferential trade between the EU and the UK. The to the domestic market. the SACUM-UK EPA, was to duty and quota-free access for with the EU. prospect of striking such a deal, With the UK deciding to quit concluded in September 2019. their exports under the EU-SADC In this scenario, the SACUM- however, has been thrown into the EU it meant that it would In essence, this entailed a transfer EPA. Given the developed nature UK arrangement will be doubt by the publication recently no longer be a part of the EU- of the terms of the SADC-EU of its economy, South Africa preserved, but it will also of a new controversial bill by the SADC EPA. This implied, in turn, EPA into the new SACUM-UK enjoys less favourable treatment introduce new complications in British government that seeks that trade between the SADC EPA. These terms cover rules for: for some of its agricultural, fish trade and uncertainty concerning to overrule parts of the Brexit countries and the UK would • trade in goods, and aluminium exports. A new how certain issues, such as the withdrawal pact. no longer enjoy the preferential • preferential tariff rates on trade provision was agreed that level and quantity of local inputs The outcome of these talks will terms that existed under the all sides, allowed SACUM nations and the in the production of motor cars have implications for the South EU-SADC EPA framework. • trade remedies, UK to source and use EU inputs in South Africa for export to African economy, specifically The new deal • technical standards for health for production to export to each the EU and UK markets, will be trade. The EU as a regional bloc To prevent disruption to trade, and safety for agricultural and other’s markets. This ensured the addressed. A deal between the is South Africa’s largest trade the Southern African Customs industrial products, continuity of integrated value EU and the UK, therefore, will partner in the world, and South Union nations struck a deal • protection of South African and chains across South Africa, the be the most preferable outcome Africa is the EU’s biggest trade with the UK in 2017. The custom UK’s geographical indications, EU and the UK, particularly in for SACUM countries. partner in Africa. South Africa union countries are South Africa, and the automobile industry. has longstanding and extensive Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, • dispute settlement. The SACUM-UK agreement (TheConversation.) trade relations with the UK. Prior to exiting the EU, the UK was South Africa’s second largest trade partner, after Germany, in the EU regional community. The country is also South Africa’s fourth biggest market for exports, behind only China, Germany and the United States. Until the UK decided to leave the EU, it traded with South Africa under an economic partnership agreement (EPA) between the EU and some member states of the Southern African Development Community (SADC). The EU- SADC EPA entered into force on 10 October 2016. Under this agreement, the EU has fully or partially eliminated custom duties for South African exports, except for aluminium and various agricultural products. The EU-SADC EPA specifies Echo Newspaper 28 Sep - 04 Octo 2020 Echo Report 5
The minister had been given a formal reprimand, a “salary
The opposition Democratic Alliance had accused Mapisa- ‘‘Nqakula of misusing state resources by letting the group from the ruling African National Congress (ANC) travel with her to Harare in September.
sacrifice” had been imposed on her for three months from Nov. 1 and she would have to make sure the ANC reimbursed the state for the costs of the flight, the presidency added. A defence ministry spokesman South African defence minister’s pay did not immediately respond to requests for comment from the minister. Mapisa-Nqakula herself docked over use of military plane did not immediately respond to a message sen. South Africa’s president has The opposition Democratic The presidency said late on of judgement”. Ramaphosa has pledged to reprimanded defence minister Alliance had accused Mapisa- Saturday Mapisa-Nqakula had It said President Cyril clean up the ANC’s reputation Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula Nqakula of misusing state been on an official trip. But her Ramaphosa had told Mapisa- after a decade of scandals under and docked her pay for three resources by letting the group decision to let the delegation - Nqakula in a letter that this his predecessor Jacob Zuma. months for taking a delegation from the ruling African National who were travelling to Zimbabwe was not in keeping with her to Zimbabwe on an air force Congress (ANC) travel with her on unrelated business - join her responsibilities as a cabinet (Reuters.) plane, his office said. to Harare in September. on the flight had been an “error minister.
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