20 May 2020

Vice President, Mr Slumber Tsogwane has pleaded with Batswana to embrace the new culture of always wearing facemasks in public. 

Speaking during a handing over of donations towards the COVID-19 Relief Fund by different companies this morning, Mr Tsogwane said wearing face masks is a new normal and people have to adapt to keep on fighting the invisible enemy of Corona-virus.
 
Mr Tsogwane received donations amounting to a total of P3.2m, broken down with Limkokwing University donating P120 000, Taurus Batteries P150 000, Apostolic Faith Mission P100 000, CrossCorn P100 000 and Astron Energy Caltex P100 000.

The Muslim Association from Molepolole region donated P56 550, the DRC community living in Botswana P50 000, Southern District Beef Farmers Association P30 000, the Uganda Association of Botswana P20 000 and Lobatse Secondary School Class of 2000 donated P6570.

Mr Tsogwane thanked the donors for their effort, saying government was humbled by people who heeded their call. 

He made special appreciation to the nations residing in Botswana that continued to extend a helping hand to Batswana, saying indeed their response was to be exalted, because they did that despite their own people in their countries facing the same challenges. 

The VP said the donations would go a long way in assisting Batswana and urged the beneficiaries to put them into good use. He appealed to other stakeholders to continue donating so as to ease difficulties faced by Batswana during the pandemic. 

For his part, the Assistant Minister for Presidential Affairs, Governance and Public Administration, Mr Meshack Mthimkhulu said government was humbled to receive such donations. 

Mr Mthimkhulu said government could not fight the war alone, adding that the COVID-19 situation demanded support from one another. 

Meanwhile Woolworths Botswana also donated 17 000 units of assorted clothes and footwear valued at P3.8million in support of the fight against COVID-19 pandemic.
 
The donation comprises of clothing and footwear for people of all ages, from newborn babies to adults. Ends