25 Jul 2022

Botswana has been showered with accolades for its COVID-19 response and  government credited with taking timeous and responsible measures to protect the population against the global health crisis.

Paying a valedictory call on President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi in Gaborone yesterday, outgoing French ambassador Ms Laurence Beau said her three-year stay in Botswana coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic which disrupted livelihoods, economies and travel.

The envoy, whose tour of duty ends this month, said she got to witness first hand, the dedicated, holistic approach government adopted  for saving lives, cushioning citizens from the impact on livelihoods and executing an economic transformation and recovery plan.

President Masisi thanked the French and other European nations for their support noting that as a bloc the European Union (EU) was the biggest donor of COVID-19 vaccines to Botswana.

He explained that as part of Botswana’s response to the pandemic, government instituted an 18-month state of emergency, an unpopular but necessary measure.

It was the only available legal instrument for government to withdraw some civil liberties such as freedom of movement in order to save lives, stated the President.

The President said government ensured that the instrument was utilised purely for combating the pandemic adding that no infringement of constitutionally stipulated rights took place beyond what was necessary to fight the health crisis.

Dr Masisi thanked Ambassador Beau for having been an ‘outstanding’ diplomat who during her tenure expanded efforts to enhance Franco-Tswana bilateral ties.

“France is a great friend to Botswana and a strategic partner in the EU and much more could be done to ensure the relations bear more tangible benefits for the two countries’ economies,” said the President.

He said with Botswana positioning itself as the diamond capital of the world, and France, ‘Paris in particular’, being the globe’s fashion capital, presented an opportunity for the two states to work together in downstream value addition industries.

President Masisi said Botswana could learn a lot from France with regard to  exportation of  arts and culture as well as in areas such as patenting and intellectual property rights.
Responding, Ambassador Beau said she was looking forward to the practical realisation of the collaboration in agriculture between the two countries, which started during her tenure.

The Ministry of Agriculture had already started engaging the French on practical modalities of the partnership, she revealed.

She also revealed that the French government would soon donate 300 000 doses of paediatric vaccines to Botswana. ENDS