Staff Writer 
THE COVID-19 TASK FORCE AND THE PRESIDENT MUST RESPECT CITIZENS -Ngakaagae
The legitimate effort against COVID19, does not licence govt to play marbles, with peoples lives. It is gravely disrespectful, in the absence of imminent and irreversible danger, to direct that people surrender their liberties and livelihoods at THREE hours notice to government, without an indication, even if tentative, as to how long such a deprivation, is expected to last. The way that the President, and the COVID19 task force, have behaved, in effecting and communicating the present lockdown, has been utterly disrespectful to the citizen and smacks of grave arrogance and a false sense of entitlement. It constitutes callous disregard for citizen liberties, and has been totally insensitive to hundreds of thousands of struggling Batswana (especially in business and in the informal sector), whose lives have been wrecked by a pandemic the effects of which they are only beginning to come to terms with.
It must be stated, that this approach by government, is self defeating. We run the risk, as a country in distress, that people may begin to feel that their liberties and livelihoods are being taken for granted, and then to disengage from the national effort.
The COVID19 Task force and and government arrogance, is left untamed, will speed up a burnout phase, in terms whereof people will no longer care. We must foster joint ownership of this struggle as between the citizen and government and nurse it until such time when we have achieved our end game (whatever it is). The effort, cannot be sustained through a top down relationship, in terms whereof, orders for the surrender of livelihoods and liberties, are made a la Adolf Hitler.
We cannot unring the bell, fellow citizens. We are here now. Let’s cooperate with the government in its efforts, and hope for a speedy end of this lockdown phase.
To the COVID19 Task Force and the President: We owe you an eternal debt of gratitude. We applaud your efforts. All we ask for is some minimal respect. That cannot, be too much asking.
KGOSI NGAKAAGAE