This shows commitment to the struggle against HIV/AIDS at the highest levels. However, it is disturbing that at the same event, people unidentified agents were ordered to confiscate a paper that criticised government's policies on the fight against the disease. The paper, which was compiled by the Executive Director of Botswana Network on Ethics, Law and HIV/AIDS (BONELA), Uyapo Ndadi, sought to present "Ten Reasons Why Botswana Will Not Achieve Zero Infections" as its heading indicated.
In our view, the paper was a progressive step that attempted to add a critical voice to the dynamic debate on HIV/AIDS in which every Motswana has been encouraged to participate over the years. Yet it was somehow found to be opprobrious, and its circulation immediately withdrawn from everyone present, including heads of foreign missions and representatives of UNAIDS (Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS) and the World Health Organisation. The scene that unfolded has been likened to the rule of thumb of police states as the offending document was ripped out of the hands of the guests, as though they were common criminals.
