22 Apr 2020

Joint Task Force Commander-North and Botswana Defence Force (BDF) 2 Brigade Commander Brigadier Joseph Seelo says he is convinced that soldiers deployed to patrol during the State of Emergency and extreme social distancing will be professional at all times.

The soldiers have been deployed to help ensure adherence to extreme social distancing regulations in major villages and towns in all over the country, including the northern part of Botswana where Brig. Seelo is in charge.

He said the soldiers would display good professional conduct they were renowned for during the operation.

Brig. Seelo told a media briefing in Francistown on April 21 that the primary task in the operation was to conduct border patrols and undertake security operations to prevent illegal border crossing.

He said the soldiers would also provide security at isolation and quarantine sites as well assist to ensure a secure environment for other stakeholders participating in COVID-19 operations.

“We also provide specialised medical assistance support to the District Health Management Teams. The soldiers would also provide aid to civil authorities in the form of security as well as open avenues for them to move around in their entire areas of their responsibility without any hindrances,” he said.

The BDF has vast experience in operations of this magnitude and would therefore draw lessons from past experiences to do their best, Brig. Seelo said.

He thus assured the nation that the army would guard against any abuse that could seriously damage their organisational reputation. Ends