The Botswana government on Tuesday announced all the cabinet members have agreed to donate 10% of their salaries towards the country’s COVID-19 relief fund, reported Africa News.
Vice President Slumber Tsogwane confirmed that the cabinet members have pledged 10% of their salaries to the relief fund for a period of six months. The deductions will amount to P167,407.20 every month. The amount comes up to about $14,000 per month and $84,000 over the six-month period.
During a televised address on state broadcaster, BTV, on Tuesday evening VP Tsogwane said the President, himself as Vice President, Ministers and Assistant Ministers have all written letters and authorized deduction of 10% of their salaries to help the nation in the fight against COVID-19.
He went on to thank Botswana’s private sector for their continued contribution to the fund and urged others to bring their pledges, monetary or otherwise. The country is under a lockdown occasioned by a state of emergency imposed to curb spread of the virus.
Earlier this month, President Mokgweetsi Masisi and all other members of parliament were placed under a 14-day mandatory quarantine after a health worker screening lawmakers for coronavirus was found tested positive for Covid-19.
The health worker was on duty in parliament during a special sitting of parliament that was called to discuss on Masisi’s proposal to extend a state of emergency. The lawmakers were given option to either self-isolate themselves at home or shift to facilities designated by the government.
It was the second time that President Masisi was placed in self-isolation because of the coronavirus. He was made to self-isolate in March after he traveled to Namibia for the swearing-in of his counterpart Hage Geingob. At the time Namibia had recorded three confirmed coronavirus cases and Botswana had none. The president tested negative for COVID-19 and released from home quarantine to resume duties at his office.
