Botswana's president has suspended the assistant minister for health for attending a tombstone unveiling ceremony for his late father, in breach of Covid regulations that ban public gatherings.

Sethomo Lelatisitswe apologised and said the event had been planned a long time ago and could not be postponed.

He has been suspended for one month.

His family was unveiling their father's tombstone as their mother took off the mourning dress as required in their culture.

Only cabinet meetings, parliament sittings and funerals are allowed in Botswana.

The government banned all other gatherings because of rising Covid-19 cases.