Just how often have we heard the slogan of a caring and a loving nation being chanted? At every turn each and every company joins in the bandwagon, perhaps just to dupe the gullible into thinking that indeed organizations and corporations care about the lofty words encapsulated in our vision 2016.But alas, discrimination of any form including the one based on people's health status is the order of the day. Worse still, this is perpetrated by well established and respected organisations.
Reports that the Assistant Minister of Labour and Home Affairs, Gaotlhaetse Matlhabaphiri has told Parliament that some diamond firms in the country subject their workers to mandatory HIV testing before they employ them is a matter of serious concern. It is against the laws of Botswana to discriminate against anybody on the basis of his or her health status. The minister should have told Paliament in clear terms what action government would take against companies that violate the country's laws, and violate the constitution.
