17 Jun 2018

Legislators have unanimously welcomed the Biological Weapons Prohibition Bill, saying the law and similar other pieces of legislation were necessary to ensure that Botswana marched alongside other countries in addressing key issues.

First to comment during the debate of the bill on June 14, was MP Polson Majaga who said because Botswana belonged to several international organisations, it was important for the country to have in place laws such as the Biological and Toxin Weapons Prohibition Bill.

Mr Majaga said if Botswana lagged behind in introducing such laws," it would not be a surprise of the country soon became a terrorist centre."

He said for this reason, it was critical that laws be strengthened so that terrorist and other individuals with criminal intents did not turn Botswana into a base for terrorist activities if they felt that other countries had tightened their laws.

Gabane-Mmankgodi MP Major General Pius Mokgware said public education was needed for the nation to embrace the new law.

In addition, the lawmaker emphasised why it was critical to also look into agricultural chemicals as they too could pose danger to people.

Maj Gen Mokgware said there were chemicals used for agricultural purposes which if mixed could be highly dangerous to different forms of life.

Further, the MP also advised that in drawing up the law, a provision should be included to make undergoing training for making improvised weapons an offence, saying most countries had already gone that route.

MP for Lentsweletau-Mmopane Mr Vincent Seretse concurred on the need for extensive public education, noting that this was one way of ensuring that the nation was indeed protected.

MP Seretse said the law was necessary particularly because the effects of biological weapons were far-reaching and immeasurable.

Francistown South MP Mr Wynter Mmolotsi said pesticides also needed to be looked into as some had residual effects that could in the long term have undesirable effects on life.

The MP observed how such pesticides were more dangerous than actual weapons of war as they were silent killers.

Mr Mmolotsi said in looking into pesticides, the issues of their disposal when they had expired as well as the disposal of their containers also needed to be considered as improper disposal could also be detrimental to all forms of life.

Presenting the bill, MinIster Shaw Kgathi of Defence, Justice and Security had stated that the object of the bill was to provide for the domestication of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological and Toxin Weapons to ensure that Botswana conformed to the convention on biological weapons and implemented her obligations under the said convention.

Minister Kgathi said even though Botswana remained in the periphery of terrorism, the demands for international cooperation required the country to respond to global challenges manifesting across the world.

“This bill therefore not only domesticates the convention on biological weapons but also provides for the implementation of certain biological-weapons related provision of the UN Security Council

Resolution 1540 by prohibiting any misuse of biological agents and toxins, thereby facilitating Botswana’s compliance with her international obligations to prevent proliferation of biological and toxin weapons,” he explained.

The minister said biological and toxin weapons could have untold catastrophic effects to human beings, animals and the environment.

“It is therefore imperative that as a country we domesticate relevant international instruments to criminalise such acts and prescribe steep penalties to deter [possible commission of all offences prescribed under national and international laws,” he said.

In addition, Mr Kgathi pointed out that the bill was aligned to anti-money laundering and counter terrorist financing as financing of weapons of mass destruction could take place through proceeds accruing from criminal activities. ENDS