03 Jun 2021

Chairperson of Botswana Council for the Disabled (BCD), Mr Dickinson Samaemo says his organisation has experienced reduced subversion and delayed disbursements from stakeholders due to COVID-19.

Speaking at BCD’s annual general assembly this week, he said the organisation had also experienced a budget cut.

Mr Samaemo said the pandemic also came with special challenges for people living with disabilities. 

He said the pandemic took control because of restrictions on movement, lockdowns and fear of the unknown.

Furthermore, he said the country also experienced the repercussions of the pandemic, adding that as people living with disabilities they also had challenges such as limited support to member organisations.

Mr Samaemo said as a result of the pandemic they experienced a low pass rate in their schools.

He said there was a need to strategise in order to address unsatisfactory school performances.

“This is our children, this is our future, so when our future is unable to perform at a foundational level, you can imagine what to expect in the future,” he said.

On other issues, the chairperson updated members that Uyapo Ndadi Law Firm was handling a case in which one of their colleagues was implicated in fraud.

He said the matter was ongoing, adding that all legal proceedings had been conducted, and that the only stage remaining was for the officer to pay the organisation.ends