26 Mar 2020

The arrival of coronavirus, first registered in Wuhan, China, in December 2019 has gripped the world and thrown it into panic mode.

Until such a time when a vaccine is found, it seems anxiety will continue to be the order of the day.

Countries have gone all out to keep at bay any chance of being caught in the eye of the storm by putting a number of measures that include in worst case scenarios, total lockdown.

So grave is the situation that neighbouring South Africa, which continues to register new cases of coronavirus, will with effect from yesterday go on total lockdown.

Botswana, which has not registered a single case of coronavirus yet, is subjecting citizens and residents coming from high risk countries to mandatory 14 day quarantine.

This is done to avoid possible spread of the pandemic that has claimed countless lives and continues to plague many others across the globe on a daily basis.

On Tuesday, visits to Mandunyane and Semotswane within Tonota constituency brought to light the fact that even within Botswana’s shores, COVID-19 has instilled fear on some people.

The trip also revealed that the Ministry of Health and Wellness educational campaign to curb the ailment has sunk in amongst Batswana.

Thirty-year-old Ms Edith Sebati, owner of Muramba Tsvina kiosk in Mmandunyane, happened to be among the many people who fielded questions posed by BOPA from inside her tuck-shop, now under lock and key.

One would be excused to think the words “Muramba Tsvina” inscribed in bold black letters on the top-front wall of the tuck shop were only written a few days ago following the worldwide outbreak of coronavirus.

The truth is the Shona inscription, which coincidentally means ‘you have rejected the dirt’ has always been there even before the advent of the pandemic.

The words, it must be stated through, are a true representation of Ms Sebati who has in her disdain and fear to catch the virus resorted to locking iron bars that form part of the security detail to the mini-shop from burglars and sell items through the irons bars.

“The idea is to maintain social distancing of one to two metres as prescribed by government. I also sanitise the iron bars at least three times a day, all in the name of self preservation and protection of my clientele,” she said.

Also, the walls of the kiosk located in Makamane kgotla along the worn-out stretch of bitumen road linking Mandunyane to both Semotswane and Tonota is laced with sheets of paper written, “Due to coronavirus outbreak precaution, we will be selling with burglar doors closed. Sorry for any inconvenience.”

Mr Benjamin Fanyane, 56, also from Makamane ward in Mmandunyane feels strongly that total adherence to precautionary measures by government would help in the fight against the virus.

“Let us wash our hands regularly, maintain social distancing as per the advice of the Ministry of Health and Wellness and many other such measures,” he said, exuding confidence that indeed the messages in the fight against coronavirus have reached Batswana across the country.

His worry though is that there are some people who share home brews and thus do not employ safety precautionary measures which could lead to possible spread of the virus.

Mmandunyane Village Development Committee secretary, who oversees well over 82 ipelegeng workers relayed that her committee was doing all that was necessary under the circumstances to share any vital information with the workers with a view to fight coronavirus.

“Besides the briefings that are conducted every morning to share pertinent information with regard to the virus, we have ensured that Ipelegeng workers are furnished with protective gear such as masks, and that the tools that they use are thoroughly cleansed to avert possible spread of the virus,” she said.

In Semotswane, 32-year-old Ms Mpho Senthufe of Baila-Phuti ward, who sells food and vegetables by the roadside, ensures that her customers do not crowd and maintain prescribed social distancing. ENDS