10 Jun 2020

Botswana International University of Science and Technology in collaboration with the Local Enterprise Authority has donated 1 000 liquid and bar soaps to the community of Barolong.

Handing over the donation on Monday, director of communications and public affairs at BIUST, Mr Keoagile Rafifing said the donation was a response to the presidential call upon citizens, businesses and academic institutions to assist government in combating the pandemic.

“We found it of utmost importance to produce hand washing soaps in the face of the scourge and donate some to the communities as hand soap is a vital component in fighting the spread of the scourge,” he said.

Mr Rafifing explained that BIUST had built a formidable relationship with Local Enterprise Authority which had facilitated the production of hand washing soaps.

“We had a scarcity of resources and LEA assisted with two machinery to ensure that soaps are produced in large quantities,” he said.

Mr Rafifing said among other products and services that the university had produced as a response to COVID-19 outbreak, was a drone that was being used to disinfect the atmosphere and dashboard. He added that they assisted other countries such as Zimbabwe, Namibia, Mozambique among others to develop the same dashboard.

On other issues, he highlighted that COVID-19 exigencies proved the possibility of achieving the government’s much sought economic development through local human resources which would  eventually lead the country to accomplishing the espoused knowledge-based economy.

Receiving on behalf of the community, Kgosi Mooketse Marumoloa thanked BIUST for the gesture and said that the community was willing to comply with COVID-19 health protocols.

Kgosi Marumoloa said even though shortage of resources made it difficult, he hoped that the donated soaps would assist in keeping the community safe. Ends