Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi on Tuesday declared a state of emergency and a 28-day lockdown scheduled to commence at midnight on April 2 as a response to the fight against coronavirus.
Masisi said while the state of emergency and lockdown would both commence on Thursday and should not be “taken lightly”.
“I am convinced that I make it in the best interest of our nation,” Masisi said in a live broadcast.
He added: “I have also decided to summon a meeting of Parliament at which meeting I will seek a resolution of Parliament for the state of emergency to continue for a longer period.”
According to Masisi, movement of people would be restricted during the lockdown.
“All individuals across the country will be expected to adhere to a more severe form of social distancing where movement out of the home is only restricted to those performing essential services and transporting essential goods.”
The declaration came hours after the Botswana government announced on Monday night that the country had recorded it first three cases of coronavirus, the virus that causes a respiratory diseases called COVID-19.
KO/jn/APA