Gaborone, Botswana (PANA) - Botswana’s President Mokgweetsi Masisi is to pardon scores of prisoners during the country’s state of emergency lockdown.
Addressing the nation through the national broadcaster – Botswana Television (Btv) - on Sunday, Defence, Justice and Security Minister Kagiso Mmusi, said the president is yet to reveal the names following assessment of the prisoners.
"President Mokgweetsi Masisi has identified about 130 prisoners to be released from prison in due course as the country fights to contain the spread of corona virus,” Mmusi said.
He said the prisoners would be quarantined for 14 days and subjected to testing for COVID-19 before being released.
The move is expected to ease congestion in the prisons to allow extreme social distancing.
Meanwhile, Mr. Mmusi has bemoaned that there is still shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) for police and soldiers on the frontline, in the fight against COVID-19.
“We are trying hard to make sure our personnel have PPEs; we currently have masks and sanitisers,” said Mmusi.
The law enforcement officers are monitoring and controlling the movement of people across the country, as Botswana makes efforts to contain the spread of the coronavirus. The country has recorded 13 positive cases with one fatality.
-0- PANA DRW/MA 12April2020
