The President of the Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF) – Biggie Ganda Butale says the refusal by President Mokgweetsi Masisi is an indication that he does not trust the vaccine donated by India recently.
“His refusal to take the vaccine is testimony of one of two things: that he does not trust the vaccine and is as such waiting for a jab of a different vaccine or that he indeed already has had his vaccine on his multiple trips to Namibia. The Commander in Chief basically deserted a nation and looked out for himself first. The captain of a ship saved his own skin and left everyone marooned at sea till some India good Samaritan made a donation to save the nation. This President cannot be trusted with anything!” he charged.
The President have said this week that he will not take the first jab of the vaccine so that the elderly- who are at more risk of succumbing to Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19) get vaccinated first. The article by Sunday Standard newspaper reported that the president will not skip a que but wait for his turn. Butale says that reasoning is deceptive and does not hold water because “Masisi himself is an elderly person” and “he is also more at risk of Covid-19 infection and hospitalisation due to his reckless travels, and previous reports of his being unwell only compound the risk.”
“It is therefore in the national interest that he takes the first jab. We cannot allow the first citizen to succumb to Covid-19 just like that.” Butale asserted.
Other heads of states that led their nations in taking the COVID-19 vaccine include; Cyril Ramaphosa of the neighboring South Africa, Emmerson Mnagagwa of the neighboring Zimbabwe, and Rwanda’s Paul Kegame along with his wife.
“We repeat our call that the President and his Vice President be first in line to take the vaccine live before cameras. It is important that the first citizen take the first shots like a good army general who leads his troops into battle to inspire confidence would do. We hope no one will be injected with a placebo, deception will always catch up with us!” he reiterated.
Most citizens on social media platforms have been showing reluctancy to take the COVISHIELD AstraZeneca vaccine from India. This especially comes after the reports that some people had blood clots after being vaccinated at Europe. Most social commentators are calling for the President to do like his counterparts and take the vaccine first to prove its safety and efficiency.
