25 Mar 2020

 Suspension of public transport will be the last option if transport operators do not comply with the COVID-19 precautionary measures.

Addressing the media through video conferencing in Gaborone on March 24, Minister of Transport and Communication Mr Thulagano Segokgo said the transport industry had the potential to spread coronavirus rapidly if safety precautions were not followed.

Road transport, he noted, was used by the majority of the population hence the need to have the interventions and ensure compliance. 

Public transport operators as well as commercial and freight service providers have therefore been advised to continuously disinfect vehicle seats, door handles and surfaces.

They are also encouraged to keep windows open for air circulation in public service vehicles as well as to use sanitisers or water and soap at the doors of public service vehicles. 

Operators have also been encouraged to have clinical waste containers for disposal of used tissues. 

Another measure that has been instituted to curb the spread of COVID-19 is prohibition of hawkers in public service vehicles. To enhance social distancing, Mr Segokgo said 65-seater loading would be reduced to 18.

In addition, Mr Segokgo stated that his ministry had temporarily halted provision of some services in order to reduce movement and congestion of people.

Suspended services include all driver tests (both theory and practical) and application for passenger permits. 

Also temporarily halted is renewal of driver’s license accompanied by the waiving of penalties beginning March 25 until the situation normalises. 

In addition, conversion of foreign driver’s license is suspended as well as Transport Advisory Board and Appeals Tribunal sittings.

On airlines, he said they had been instructed not to transport passengers from identified high-risk countries. 

However, he said Air Botswana regional services had been suspended.

Regarding other airline services, Mr Segokgo stated that Qatar Airways had suspended operations to Botswana while Ethiopian Airways had reduced operations to three days a week.  

On Botswana Railways, he said the overnight passenger services locally and to Bulawayo had also been stopped. 

Cross border freight services would however continue with precautionary measures taken, he said. 

Mr Segokgo said human to human contact had been reduced or eliminated with operations restricted to disconnecting wagons and connecting new ones.ends