25 Apr 2020

Lobatse authorities have decided to limit the number of shopping permits to reduce movement of people during the extreme social distancing period.

Deputy district commissioner, Ms Kolobetse Sejakgomo, explained that from Friday, they would hand out 30 permits per day to those wishing to buy food items.

Ms Sejakgomo encouraged people looking to buy essential food commodities to apply for permits at a customary court nearest to their home. 

She said the permits could be accessed at customary courts in Peleng, Woodhall and Thema, adding that each customary court was allowed to issue 10 permits per day.

The deputy district commissioner said the move to limit shopping permits was taken after the leadership realised that residents were still frequenting shopping complexes in Lobatse, despite the country being on a lockdown.

She said such violated the extreme social distancing protocol meant to reduce the spread of coronavirus in Botswana.

“We have been experiencing a high number of people coming to ask for permits from our offices, despite our advice to the community to stay at home. Some have listened to the advice and are confined to their homes, but some have continued to frequent shops in big numbers,” Ms Sejakgomo said.

She advised those issued with shopping permits to buy from the nearest shops only.

Ms Sejakgomo further said they had taken a decision to stop issuing permits to people wanting to travel to other places. “I want to stress that we will not give people permits to leave the town during the lockdown period,” she said.

Meanwhile, Ms Sejakgomo said all 40 people who had been quarantined at Manong Lodge and 36 others at Cumberland hotel tested negative of the coronavirus and released to join their families. ENDS