A Reflection on the Nation in A State of Emergency – The Othered

The State of Emergency was extended to six (6) months by a Special Parliamentary Meeting on 9 April 2020 through section 17 of the Constitution which limits to six (6) months, the maximum period for which such a declaration can be approved. The lockdown in section 5(2) of the Emergency Powers (COVID-19) Regulations 2020 limits freedom of movement (section 14 of the Constitution). Section 31 (3) limits the freedom of expression, which is protected by section 12(1) of the Constitution.

This was limited under exceptional circumstances for the protection of ‘... public health’. In reflecting on the people who became most vulnerable as a result of the lockdowns, we cannot ignore undocumented migrants. Like many other countries, Botswana has a very vibrant community of undocumented migrant workers, comprised of nationals of various countries across the African region. Most undocumented migrants work in the informal sector, in order to keep themselves well nourished, and as economically independent as possible.