21 May 2020

The coronavirus pandemic has hit virtually every business sector in Botswana, forcing some to close their doors, while others made significant changes in their operations to try and survive the unprecedented crisis.

As government mulls a path out of lockdown to gradually re-open the economy, there seems to be no reappearance of a silver lining in the horizons for some.

With the easing of the lockdown in full swing effective from May 15, the public transport sector however still remains under siege and some operators are already feeling the pinch of some of the COVID-19 protocols in place.

In random interviews at Gaborone’s main bus rank by BOPA, Mogoditshane Route Two combi drive Mr Keamogetse Reetsang revealed that for small transport operators, without deep pocketed owners or large cash reserves, the extreme social distancing period had been challenging.

He said hard decisions had to be made on whether to resume business during ease of the lockdown phase or to await the official declaration of victory over the pandemic.

Although he admits that all protocols in place were to safeguard the health of the nation, Mr Reetsang is critical of the new regulation, which only permits his 16 seater combi to now be permitted to carry only nine passengers.

Mr Reetsang is of the view that social distancing and mass transit are two concepts that quite literally do not sit well together, adding that a combi has to be at its full carrying capacity during every route in order to make daily profits.

 “E le ruri re berekela a e fofe, ka jaana go sena letseno lepe mo nakong ya gompieno.  Bapagami ba tsena mo seatleng, jalo re kokonelwa ke leokwane fela,” he lamented.

He said keeping transit open while protecting the health of passengers and drivers requires sweeping adjustments, thus pleaded with government to relieve public transport operators from facing serious financial distress.

Mr Reetsang pleaded with government to deploy instruments for liquidity support, including cash injections through supply-side subsidies or adjusting per-kilometer fares.

He applauded passengers for adhering to all public transport related usage regulations, which include registration keeping and wearing of face masks while using public transport.

Furthermore, he noted that public transport operators are also in compliance of the protocols as they continually disinfect their combies. Ends