08 Jun 2020

 The Ipelegeng Programme will continue despite challenges experienced due to the  COVID-19 pandemic, Vice President Mr Slumber Tsogwane has said.

 In a meeting in Xere recently, Mr Tsogwane said workers under the programme would be redeployed to  different departments to do cleaning and other menial jobs.

So far 10 people in Xere had been recruited through the programme to clean school bathrooms and assist to clean kitchens.

Concerning the food relief programme, the vice president  said there was need to come up with a strategy  that would guide the  distribution of food packages.    

On other issues, Mr Tsogwane said the COVID-19  pandemic had enabled Batswana to be innovative by producing goods such as assembling of thermometres, developing sanitisers and making face masks as well as shields.

 He said the University of Botswana and Botswana University of International Technology were currently conducting research on the development of ventilators which were in short supply.

Boteti Sub-council deputy chairman Mr Batsweletse Kgagamedi  revealed that Debswana had donated P15 000 to  each school in Boteti for the installation of hand basins and associated infrastructure, three infrared thermometers and nine dustbins per school as well as two masks per student.

All in all Debswana had spent P1.450 million on the project, he said..

For her part, Village Extennsion Team chairperson, Ms Boikanelo Makosha said Xere Primary School had not been affected by social distancing in classes as pupil teacher ratio was at an acceptable level and that only one class would have to be divided into two.

Ms Makosha said there was a shortage of books and no gysers at the school. She requested that the school be furnished with internet gadgets. ENDS