Covid Travel Bans Destroying Economy, says Botswana President
December 19, 21
(IDEX Online) - Botswana's President Mokgweetsi Masisi has slammed Covid travel restrictions newly imposed by Western nations, saying they are destroying his country's economy.
The USA, France, Germany, and the UK are among the countries that have banned flights to Botswana and elsewhere in southern African.
Botswana's seven-day average of new infections was recorded at 539 yesterday, up from 113 a week earlier.
The president did not conceal his anger as he accused first-world nations of cruelty and double-standards.
"This will destroy economies of small nations such as ours," he said. "When we talk to them they claim they like us and that they support us in terms of developments.
"No, the way I see it, it is more like GBV (gender-based violence), big nation violence against small nations."
He said the bans would "destroy" the economy in two months and called for them to be lifted immediately.
Botswana relies on diamonds for around a fifth of its GDP and its capital Gabarone hosts the De Beers Sights 10 times a year.
Pic shows President Mokgweetsi Masisi