The suffering grass
Friday, April 14, 2023 | 190 Views |
Shortly after the most recession review held towards the end of March in Geneva, popular South African media outlets, Newzroom Afrika and News24, ran strikingly similar reports on Botswana’s “backsliding civil and political rights” as well as “anti-democratic repression and a rising tide of political persecution and violence”.
A look beyond the headlines reveals that the primary source of both articles rather than being facts established or accepted by the United Nations, is actually presentations made by Omnia Strategy, a UK-based law firm that “specialises in dispute prevention and resolution around the globe,” according to its website.
For years, we have rightly celebrated our world-class HIV response. The PMTCT programme has been its crown jewel, ensuring HIV-positive mothers could safely nurture their newborns without fear of transmission. Now, a leaked memo exposes a terrifying reality that the lifeline has been frayed to breaking point. A key warehouse in Francistown stands empty, and access is being rationed. Official reassurances about expected consignments ring hollow to...