25 Dec 2020

After President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi announced on Wednesday (December 23) that government had imposed a curfew to restrict movement of people between 7pm. and 4am as a measure to contain the spread of coronavirus, BOPA went out to find out how some Gaborone residents responded to the new arrangement.

In his national address, President Masisi said the curfew would commence on Christmas eve and end on January 3. He said the move was taken in view of the ever-increases cases of COVID-19 across the country.

Therefore, the restrictions will not only impact on movement of people, but also on, among others, closure of some businesses and movement of evening and late night long distance public transporters.  

The curfew has, therefore, led to cancellation of evening buses.

In an interview with BOPA, Mr Tshepo Moremi of NKK Bus Operators said as a result of the curfew, the company had, with immediate effect, reshuffled its normal scheduled times of travel. Mr Moremi said the regulation had affected most of the departure times in the schedule. The move has only spared the morning travels.

“As a result of the curfew, the last bus to depart Gaborone, going to Francistown will be at 1pm. They will be no buses scheduled to travel in the afternoon and at night,” he said.

Retailers will also be equally affected. They must close earlier than they normally do. Regional manager of Woolworths Botswana, Ms Gorata Abotseng-Lekone indicated that business was usually at its peak during the afternoon.

Ms Abotseng-Lekone said the imposed curfew would therefore impact on trading.

Before the curfew some big retail stores used to close at 9pm, mini retail stores at 6pm, therefore Ms Abotseng-Lekone said during the 10 days of the curfew, businesses will close to allow employees time to reach home before 7pm.

 “As management, we are also looking into providing our staff with transport as some of them might get delayed while waiting for public transport and thereby risk violating the law,” she said.

ENDS