A total of eight people were on April 06 morning arrested and charged for harvesting phane illegally.

The illegal activity comes during a sensitive period when the nation and indeed the world is on lockdown amid COVID-19 that had been declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Superintendent Seanokeng Nkau of Gerald Estate police said in an interview that the eight men and women, were nabbed in the bushes around Gerald Estate location in Francistown.

The eight, according to the police chief, claimed hunger had forced them to gather Mophane worm without permission as per the requirement of the law.

Supt. Nkau therefore pleaded with Batswana to stay at their homes to stop the spread of coronavirus, saying moving about could only exacerbate the spread of the disease that had already claimed many lives around the world.

On the other hand, Tati Town police’s Supt. Edward Leposo of said in an interview that apart from people who frequented shops, residents in his policing area had shown compliance.

“We do however advised them to observe social distancing as per the regulations to avoid catching the virus,” he said. ENDS