28 Dec 2020

After President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi announced a curfew effecting at 7pm on Christmas Eve, some travellers failed to reach their destination before the no-movement hours commenced, therefore spending the night at mounted police road blocks across the country.

Botswana Police Service public relations officer, Senior Superintendent Near Bagali confirmed to BOPA in an interview, on Christmas Day, that some travellers spent the night at Dibete. Snr Supt Bagali said the curfew had made it mandatory that there would be no movement of people between 7pm and 4am, therefore without compromise, law enforcement officers put to a halt movement of traffic along the A1  at Dibete.

He said motorists, either going north of south of the country spent the night at Dibete gate, only to proceed with their journeys after 4am, the following morning. “It was the first day, and some failed to beat the no-movement time, therefore as it is the lawful, we had to comply and stop their movement. They spent the night at Dibete. Generally, even though it is difficult since it’s a new thing, I believe Batswana are doing their all to comply,” said Snr Supt Bagali.

Snr Supt Bagali also urged the general public, public transporters and the business community at large to adjust their time of operations in order to comply. “It was day one, we understood the challenges that we encountered. This is a law that everybody must abide by, so there is no compromise. I am impressed by the efforts that were made by the general community to comply,” he said.

Snr Supt Bagali was hopeful that going forward, people would get used to the new arrangement and act accordingly. ENDS