27 Sep 2020

Greater Francistown District Health Management Team coordinator (DHMT), Ms Bayengemali Munyere on September 24 had a hard time fielding questions from furious  councillors for disrespecting city authorities.

Councillors said the DHMT coordinator had for the past two months been hiding information on the outbreak COVID-19 from city authorities that include the mayor, town clerk, councillors, dikgosi as well as the media fraternity.

They said Ms Munyere’s failure to appraise authorities about the outbreak of the pandemic had exacerbated the situation because the public was left in the dark.

The DHMT coordinator had also sent BOPA reporters from pillar to post in their quest to solicit information on the status of the virus in the second city.

Attempts by both the director of public health, Dr Malaki Tshipayagae and the Ministry of Health and Wellness chief public relations officer, Ms Doreen Motshegwe in the past to intervene and instruct the DHMT coordinator to grant interviews did not bear any fruit.

Councillor for Tshwaragano ward, Mr Gaone Majere complained that the briefing came late when the number of people infected with the virus had soared.

He did not take kindly to DHMT passing the blame to other departments.

Some councillors felt the DHMT did not give COVID-19 the respect it deserved and took lightly a matter that had a bearing on the welfare of the public.

They said contact tracing was not properly conducted or not done at all. They noted that some who claimed to be parents or guardians of some of the pupils who had been placed on quarantine said there had not been any communication from DHMT officials to date.

The civic leaders said the unpleasant state of affairs had placed them in a state of panic because they were also not sure of their own status.

Councillor Badubi Lekang wanted to know how public education was conducted, and complained about the recently released savingram by the Francistown DHMT which did not have dates.

The piece of communication, she said, lacked credibility especially coming from a government office.

Councillor Gopolang Almando wanted to know why the Francistown DHMT office was selfish with information on COVID-19 and reasons why schools could not be closed. ENDS