12 Aug 2020

North West District Council chairperson, Mr Kebareeditse Ntsogotlho, has expressed concern about some members of the community who frustrate government efforts in fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

He raised a concern during a special full council meeting recently.

He said there were reports that some people gathered at water points areas popularly known as beaches at Matlapana and Samedupi along the Maun/Francistown road.

Flocking at the beaches, he said, could undermine government efforts of controlling the pandemic.

Since government announced that the public could move freely without permits within zones, water points along the Thamalakane River experienced influx of people.

Mr Ntsogotlho said the situation was disturbing because the country was still battling with the pandemic.

He appreciated that some people survived through water activities such as boat excursions, but noted that easing of movement within zones did not mean that COVID-19 pandemic was over, hence the need for all to observe safety protocols.

He appealed to councillors to engage their electorate and educate them about the risks of not adhering to COVID-19 protocols.

“COVID-19 is real and we should all join hands and take the responsibility to keep on fighting the invisible enemy,” he added.

He urged councillors to encourage members of the community to conduct themselves in an acceptable manner and adhere to health safety measures, adding that failure to do so would result in the relevant authorities putting stringent measures to arrest the situation.

Mr Ntsogotlho said some countries had been hit hard by the pandemic and they did not want Botswana to experience the same situation.

He pleaded with the council secretary and the district commissioner to see how best they could arrest the situation at Matlapana to restore order.

Despite efforts by the law enforcement officers to patrol the area, people continued to influx the Matlapana beach especially during weekends.

Cllr for Matlapana ward, Mr Kobamelo Baikgodisi, urged the council to come up with permanent solutions to address the situation at Matlapana.

The district, he said, was the largest employer in tourism and many had lost their jobs due to the pandemic, hence resorting   to boat excursion to earn a living.

The safari guides, he said, were mostly affected, noting that they did not benefit from the COVID- 19 wage subsidy aimed at relieving workers from economic effects of the pandemic.

He wished the council in collaboration with the district commissioner’s office could engage Matlapana Community Trust and assist them on how best they could manage Matlapana beach to generate income.

The district commissioner, Mr Keolopile Leipego, concurred that the area was attracting a lot of attention and stated that efforts had been made to engage Matlapana community in an effort to come up with permanent strategies, which would promote controllable and moderated recreational activities at the area.

Currently, he said, they were waiting for the community to make a final decision on whether the area should be managed by the trust or the village development committee in order to reduce congestion and generate income. ENDS