03 Mar 2021

The high numbers of gender based violence (GBV) in the Central District have seen some funds meant for developments channeled to fight challenges associated with GBV.

Addressing the Central District Full Council (CDC) meeting virtually on March 2, chairperson Mr Ketshwereng Galeragwe called for an end to GVB because it  went against the traits Batswana were known for and the National Vision 2036 which spoke of equal opportunities for women and men, boys and girls.

Mr Galeragwe said according to the Botswana Police Service, GBV cases in Boteti were second highest in the country after Molepolole in Kweneng District, which was in the lead during the third quarter of the 2020/2021 financial year.

He appealed to councilors to work together with other stakeholders to fight GBV.

“I am happy that we initiated and participated in a clean-up campaign during the previous council session, that sent a message that, as councilors in the Central District Council, we do not tolerate GBV,” he said.

Concerning statistics of new COVID-19 infections, he said  the district continued to experience rising numbers of new infections and deaths.

He said as at February 23, there was a total of 8 181 COVID-19 cases and 78 related deaths, adding that currently there were 2 211 active cases and 5 412 recoveries.

The chairperson informed councilors that the council had not been spared from the virus, noting that by January end, 569 employees throughout the district were tested for COVID-19, out of whom 42 tested positive and 16 were contacts.

“This meant that all the affected employees were away from duty either isolated at home or isolation centres or hospitals,” he said.

He stated that such put a strain on the remaining staff and he commended those who remained to ensure continuous service provision.

Mr Galeragwe said that the same had been experienced in a number of government and private institutions, and appealed to employees to protecting each other from the virus.

He informed councilors that institutions had initiated work shift schedules to ensure continuous service delivery albeit with the skeletal staff.

This, he explained might affect certain services and result in delayed delivery but it was all because of the new normal.

He,  however said that there would be monitoring to ensure that services were not disrupted while at the same ascertaining that COVID-19 protocols were adhered to.

He encouraged councilors to continue educating and encouraging their communities to always comply with the protocols. Ends