05 Apr 2020

The Mayor of Francistown has expressed concern about some residents seen roaming the streets despite the state of public emergency.

Mr Godisang Radisigo, who is also a councilor for Satellite South ward in Francistown expressed his worry in an interview with BOPA, stating that the situation needed to be dealt with as a matter of urgency.

Allowing the situation to continue amid the lockdown, he said, could result in the deadly coronavirus thriving and spiraling out of control.

Mayor Radisigo said adherence to laid down regulations remained the only solution to contain the disease.

“Yesterday the city was quite and people remained in their houses as per the advice of the government through the Ministry of Health and Wellness. But, today there are people wandering the streets and I have been in touch with some of my council colleagues who share the same sentiments of non-compliance by some residents,” he said.

Mayor Radisigo also said it was necessary to communicate that state of affairs with the police to reinstate order with a view to contain possible spread of COVID-19.

“I am also not happy with the prevailing situation at the district commissioner’s office where everybody wants to be given permits to travel, in the process defeating the primary purpose of the 28 days state of public emergency,” he said.

In Monarch location, BOPA team found the police hard at work trying to contain the situation.

Senior Superintendent Kabo Badirwang who was at Monarch shops together with his team confirmed that indeed there was lack of compliance to COVID- 19 regulations in the area, citing instances where children were seen playing outside their homes, something he said put them at a high risk of catching the deadly virus.

“We are doing all that we can under the circumstances to contain the situation and have also employed the services of public address system to address residents of this location,” he said.

He had thus appealed to parents to be vigilant and ensure that children did not roam the street. ENDS