09 Jun 2020

A Bobirwa Subordinate Council official has challenged Batswana to expand on dividends reaped from Covid-19 as ‘the new normal’ unfolds.

Speaking at a sub council sitting recently, Mr Christopher Motsholapheko, who is the chairman,  said Covid-19 had changed lives drastically and set a new order but had also brought about positive changes as well as opened up opportunities.

One of the benefits, Mr Motsholapheko said, was reduction of classes to  manageable sizes in compliance with the Covid-19 protocol of social distancing.

“In the same vein, the council provided a safe environment for pupils at primary schools. Primary schools fall under the ambit of Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development to which councils report to. In areas with water shortages or low water pressure, the sub council erected water tanks to avail water for hand-washing at schools,” he said.

He added that among the plethora of Covid-19 positives was the maintenance of ablution facilities, construction of  new ones where necessary and installation of hand washing basins, geysers and soap dispensers.

Unlike before the pandemic, the council’s education department had ensured ample supply of cleaning chemicals, toilet paper and cleaning tools in all primary schools, he pointed out.

“In the new normal, Ipelegeng would be implemented in a slightly different manner this year. Ipelegeng programme will focus on employing cleaners and cooks for all schools…as well as engaging 226

Covid-19 scorpions who will be placed in our 17 villages,” explained Mr Motsholapheko.

To that end, he said, the authority had engaged an additional 88 cooks and 514 cleaners through Ipelegeng to help maintain higher levels of cleanliness at primary schools.

In addition to the mentioned positives, Mr Motsholapheko said invaluable lessons learnt from the pandemic was the importance of safety, health and environment (SHE) issues and hoped government would soon formulate a SHE policy.

He revealed that under the new normal, 44 SHE officers had been engaged with 31 of them having assumed their duties at Bobirwa schools.

“The importance of hygiene has been highlighted as we have to regularly wash our hands, keep our facilities clean all the time and maintain social distancing,” Mr Motsholapheko said.

He also indicated that unlike in the pre-Covid-19 era, there was an increased use of information technology in daily lives “which has helped Batswana to be active participants in the fourth industrial revolution”.

However, Mr Motsholapheko enumerated challenges stemming from the pandemic which he said included a budget cut for the Central District Council and consequently its subordinate structures.

He disclosed that CDC has had to slash its budget by a whopping P48 017 775 and the Bobirwa Sub-Council by P5 246 600. Ends