The threat by this global pandemic is not relenting and we have seen this virus strike two former BDF officers in a week. The first was Major (Ret) David Bright followed in quick succession by Brigadier (Ret) Marx Alidi. These two officers were well known at the country’s defence force and they have made significant contribution to the development of the military.
We are praying and hoping that the virus’ next stop should not be at BDF HQ, This is where the top brass of the military is housed and this can cause a lot of damage as this is where major decisions are made regarding the security of our country.
In fact this pandemic has left every country vulnerable including the United States of America. Who thought that US Navy ships would one day be deserted because a virus has infiltrated the ranks of their military?
It has become even riskier to be a police officer or military personnel anywhere in the world because their work cannot be suspended. But Corona understands none of those protocols and is not a respecter of persons. I never imagined that a police station would be closed at any moment by a virus. But last year Mogoditshane Police Station was shut for fear of this virus.
In terms of national security, it is a good thing that countries are now looking inward to combat this invincible enemy. It is the enemy within that strategists are more concerned with. There is no country that is still recruiting soldiers because the nature of military training calls for staying in crowded quarters.
Late last year I have come across a job advertisement on several of Botswana’s newspapers calling on young citizens to come and join the military’s officer corps as officer cadets. I wonder what became of the intention. There was no way this exercise was going to materialize. Corona has held every aspect of life hostage.
Soldiers have been seen on camouflage or battle dress uniform since the first state of emergency was declared. They are still there and it doesn’t look like they will get any form of reprieve soon. The virus has on occasions threatened several military establishments and of course offices of certain squadrons and units were temporarily closed.
But it is good thing that the military has in these past months delivered a state of the art tent hospital at its headquarters in Mogoditshane. This has been a measure of our military’s readiness to protect and defend. BDF has done a sterling job in fighting this pandemic.
But the big question that arises from what we have seen the military do is; what did civil authorities do to get our health facilities in the right shape. It is easy to criticize from a distance. But it is disheartening to get the reports that our central Covid-19 facility in Sir Ketumile Masire is overwhelmed. With almost a whole year to get the country ready, we don’t have to be where we are now with lack of ventilators.
But the biggest problem lies with the public. Few have believed that Corona virus is a reality. Over the past Christmas holidays, families have gathered as though there was no national and international crisis and threat over their lives. This is where our current surge has erupted from.
Like South Korea, Botswana was doing very well in arresting the pandemic and the key element in the whole equation was contact tracing. Our country has now been rendered into a state of confusion as the health professionals can no longer cope with the numbers.
We all have to appreciate the health professional rather than damn them. They are doing the best they can under the given circumstances. I personally think it is such bravado for those who dusted their white coats from the closet of retirement to join the team at the line of defence. As a retired military officer, I still don’t think I will volunteer my life back into service in the case of any breakout of war.
So far we have been doing well as a country. Looking at statistics across the continent, we have really fared better by all measure. Our morbidity in relation to the number of those testing positive is somewhat impressive and all credit goes to the health professionals.
The advent of corona virus has displayed one of the few advantages of being a small population. It is easier to keep the population in check and especially with contact tracing. The other factor is; the government can literally be able to procure vaccines for the entire population in one sweep.
Compared to other countries with a similar population of equal infections, Botswana still has a low rate of death. Swaziland statistically stands at 551 deaths out of 15 471 infections. Lesotho has lost 163 out of 8 610 infections. Namibia has lost 342 of its citizens due to Covid-19. Botswana has a brighter story to tell with fewer deaths and infection. There are 134 deaths out of 19 105 infections.
But the public remains guilty in reversing the gains just mentioned above. The public was up in arms against government when restrictions were put in place regarding population movements. Those in the Task Force are always at pains putting the restrictions in place because we as a people are free by nature in this country.
People took to preserving their freedoms to a greater extent over the past festive season. Some were escaping the curfew to the countryside where they were free to party with no worry about the law enforcement agencies appearing. There were parties held at farms and this repeated itself for days. Many were pronouncing that there was no corona in Botswana.
We are now seeing the surge as a result of this irresponsible behaviour. As it is easy to transmit this virus, we are seeing so many innocent souls departing because many of us were attending super spreader events. We need to reflect as individuals on every action we take to make sure that we do not become killers.
