01 Oct 2020

The Vice Chairperson of Francistown Taxi and Buses Association Mr Knight Chengeta says COVID-19 interzonal movement restrictions are likely to impact negatively on transport sector’s profitability and growth. 

Speaking in an interview with BOPA recently, Mr Chengeta said since people could not travel outside their zones, bus operators had found it not lucrative to travel long distances carrying a handful of passengers.He said buses could not leave Francistown to Gaborone carrying five passengers.

The vice chair however highlighted that only local taxis were travelling within zones.

Mr Chengeta observed that interzonal restrictions had affected their sector which was still reeling from losses due to the lockdown and said the current movement restrictions had added to their existing problems.

 He said most of them were struggling to meet their financial obligations such as paying banks stop orders, financial providers and employees hence some had resorted to selling their buses.

Mr Chengeta said most of the movement was between Francistown and Dukwi, Nata to Gweta and Gweta to Maun, which represented a loss to the transport sector considering the recent fuel prices hike.

He said that there was no consultation from government, adding that the minister responsible also disregarded them as he never visited them to gather firsthand information from them. 

He cited that despite visiting the bridge at Kasane and Mohembo the minister did not  spare his time to speak to taxi and bus operators in those area.

Mr Chengeta called on the government to reconsider opening the borders as foreigners patronised their sector.

Mr Bongani Otsile a loading marshal said this year’s Independence Day was a somber and frustrating one. Since he made ends meet by assisting passengers to locate buses to their destination, COVID-19  had quashed his business as there were less or no passengers at all.Mr Otsile said there were no long distance buses but only those who were traveling within zones.

A hawker, Ms Cynthia Kadramwoto said since 1995 when she started her business she had never witnessed a situation such as the current one, especially on Independence Day.ends