Zimbabwe Opposition Says THE AFRICAN STORY Activists Missing, Police Deny Holding Them page 3 Eritrean activists sue EU ISSUE NUMBER 720 VOLUME 2 18 - 24 MAY 2020 for funding Roads Built with ‘forced labour’ page 11 CROSS BORDER page 2 TRUCKERS EXPOSED TO COVID-19 Governments move to test truck drivers at borders Two truck drivers in Botswana test positive for covid-19 2020 2 Echo Report Echo Newspaper 18- 24 May 2020 THE AFRICAN STORY News, Finance, Travel and Sport Telephone: (267) 391 2305 E-mail: [email protected] Advertising Telephone: (267) 3922 655 E-mail: [email protected] Sales & Marketing Manager Ruele Ramoeng [email protected] Editor Bright Kholi [email protected] Head of Design Ame Kolobetso [email protected] Distribution & Circulation Mogapi Ketletseng [email protected] Echo is published by YMH Publishing YMH Publishing, Cross Border Truckers Unit 3, Kgale Court, Plot 128, GIFP, Gaborone Postal address: P O BOX 840, Gaborone, Exposed To Covid-19 Botswana Telephone: (267) 3922 655 E-mail: [email protected] -Governments move to test truck drivers at borders www.echo.co.bw DISCLAIMER: Echo Newspaper welcomes -Two truck drivers in Botswana test positive for covid-19 concise letters from readers. Letters must carry the full name and address of the sender. Letters must conform to the Governments move to address put in place by different and they will be required exempting cargo trucks but laws of Botswana and to the fear of truck drivers contracting countries to control the virus to abide by strict rules for said drivers would have to be Press Council of Botswana’s Code Of Ethics. Letters will also and spreading the virus across to allow for controlled economic containment of covid-19 which tested for COVID-19. be edited for length, libel and borders as 2 truck drivers in activity. includes the use of designated “There will be a cessation of language. Botswana test positive for Botswana put in place new rest sites along approved green movement of persons and any covid-19 measures dealing with truck channels. passenger-ferrying automobiles Most African countries have drivers entering the country Botswana’s testing of truck and vehicles into and out of the since the outbreak of covid-19 after a South African Truck drivers Since Monday last territory of Kenya through the closed their borders to all driver and a Motswana truck week, health authorities had Kenya-Tanzania international movement of goods and people, driver tested positive after by yesterday (Sunday), tested border,” Kenyatta said in a except for cargo trucks bringing testing on entry into the almost 500 truck drivers at televised address. in food and other essential goods country. points of entry, who then The same measures would as a measure to curb the spread The Motswana driver was have to wait for their results apply on the border with of the virus. returning on Saturday from before they proceed to their Somalia, he said. However, allowing cargo South Africa, and on being destinations. Health officials Kenyatta said authorities had truck drivers through the tested at Pioneer Border results have said that of those tested, so far prevented 78 truck drivers borders taking essential goods came positive and is being 370 tested negative while others from neighbouring countries, has since presented a problem treated at Sir Ketumile Masire await their results. including Tanzania and Somalia that seems to defeat the fight and contact tracing is ongoing. The government of Botswana from entering Kenya after they against covid-19, after it became The other case registered on has also taken a decision to tested positive for COVID-19 clear that they may in actually Monday, caused panic leading the effect that the drivers be Kenyatta also extended by 21 fact be taking across borders if health officials closing up the escorted by the police and days an existing dusk-to-dawn left unchecked. In East Africa Gaborone zone for two days military out of towns and curfew and a ban on movement Read more Echo there has always been concerns and suspending movements villages to make sure they do in and out of areas of Kenya that truckers could be spreading in and out of the area. In a not stray from their route and worst hit by the coronavirus stories on our the virus across borders. period of less than 24 hours, come in contact with people. outbreak. Facebook page by Botswana and Kenya the said driver had a contact Botswana is currently on “I know there is growing scanning the QR joined recently tightened the list of over 150 people, who Phase 3 of easing of measures global pressure for easing of code below with requirements that truck drivers were traced, quarantined, and put in place when the lockdown measures against this disease have to meet before they are will be tested after 10 days as was effected on April 2. Some and for all of us to get back to your mobile phone allowed to enter the countries. per requirements. sections of the economy have normal. We are going to step Both countries now require Botswana’s Director of Public been opened and schools are up our defence by employing that drivers have to be tested Health, Dr Malaki Tshipayagae expected to be opened on June 2. stricter, more localised before entering and will not announced last week that now Meanwhile Kenya’s President prevention actions,” he said. be allowed entry on testing as a requirement for entry, truck Uhuru Kenyatta on Saturday Kenya has 830 confirmed cases positive. drivers will now be subjected to banned movement across the of the novel coronavirus, with This happens at a time when covid-19 testing at entry points. country’s borders with Tanzania 50 deaths, while Botswana has there a growing pressure for the He further said the movement and Somalia to help curb the 25 confirmed cases, with only easing of lockdown measures of truckers will be monitored spread of the coronavirus, 1 death. Echo Newspaper 18- 24 May 2020 3 De Beers Group celebrates the dedication, hard work, sacrifice and resilience demonstrated by all COVID -19 frontline workers in Botswana. We recognise your commitment towards ensuring that the entire nation withstands and recovers from this global pandemic. From the men and women in mines across In line with our De Beers Group value the country, to health workers working ‘Put Safety First,’ we applaud you for hard to save lives, travel operators safely continuing to work safely every single day transporting goods and people, shop to eliminate the risk of infection. assistants who remain resilient to serve people daily, crop producers and farmers who put meals on tables, immigration and customs officials for their hard work, utility Thank you all! workers, bankers who serve with pride amidst the challenging conditions, house helpers who opted to continue working Re A Leboga! during this time, social workers, District Commissioners and Post Office officials who dispatch various grants and food Bruce Cleaver parcels to those in need, the Church, CEO, De Beers Group business leaders, Dikgosi, Councillors and Parliamentarians for your leadership during this time, re a leboga. Thank You. 4 Echo Report Echo Newspaper 18- 24 May 2020 enforced disappearances, with some activists having gone missing for years now. Many activists have been tortured in police custody, despite denials by police. The longer these activists are in custody the higher the risk of torture,” Mwanayanda said. The three women were part of a demonstration organized by MDC-Alliance Youth against the state’s failure to provide social protection for the poor during the current COVID-19 lockdown. As the country tries to curb the spread of the pandemic, many people are not allowed to go to work, putting them at risk of poverty, hunger and starvation. A local non-governmental organization, Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, has searched more than eight police stations to establish their Zimbabwe Opposition Says Activists whereabouts with no luck. Some sources say the trio are being held incommunicado, to pressure them to release Missing, Police Deny Holding Them information on how the demonstration was organized Zimbabwe’s main opposition and private press as saying the claiming to have been tortured. their whereabouts. without police knowledge. party said on Thursday three of three had been arrested for “We demand their Meanwhile Amnesty “It is deeply alarming that its activists were missing a day taking part in an unsanctioned unconditional and immediate International on Thursday called the state claims that it cannot after taking part in a protest over demonstration on Wednesday. release,” the MDC said in a on authorities in Zimbabwe account for the three activists food shortages and police denied Nyathi could not be reached for statement. to urgently account for three when they were arrested at holding them after initially comment. The embassies of Britain, missing female leaders from a roadblock run by both the telling local media they had But in a statement later Canada and the United States the opposition Movement for police and the military,” said been arrested. on Thursday, police denied and the European Union mission Democratic Change – Alliance Muleya Mwananyanda. The southern African nation holding the MDC members in Harare expressed concern (MDC-Alliance) and ensure “Authorities must urgently has a history of enforced in their custody and said law via social media over the their safe return. institute a search operation disappearances of government enforcement agents wanted missing activists and said police “The disappearance of these and do all within their power to opponents and the Movement for to interview the activists in should swiftly establish their political activists amounts to ensure the safe return of these Democratic Change (MDC) said connection with the protest whereabouts and wellbeing.