Mophuting calls for corporate support

19 Jan 2025

The business community has been implored to lend a hand in the ongoing relief efforts following the destruction caused by flash flood associated with Cyclone Dikeledi last week. 

The call was made by the assistant Minister in the Ministry for State President Ms Maipelo Mophuting in an interview during an assessment of damage caused around  Gaborone and Metsimotlhabe areas on Thursday.

Ms Mophuting emphasised the need for collective support to help rebuild the affected communities and provide essential aid to those impacted by the rains. 

She urged businesses to contribute in ways such as providing financial aid, and resources or manpower to assist in the recovery process. 

Her appeal underscored the significance of shared responsibility in addressing the crisis and ensuring that the affected areas received the necessary aid. 

She noted that the current relief fund of P20 million was insufficient to address the scale of the destruction and provide lasting relief to individuals whose lives had been upended. 

The rains, which swept through the country with unexpected ferocity on Thursday, caused widespread damage, including flooding, property destruction, loss of crops and displacement of people. 

Extensive flooding also resulted in power outages, leaving people in the dark and without telephone network for communication purposes. 

Most roads were left flooded, making them impassable, forcing people to remain confined to their homes. 

Ms Mophuting said to efforts to mitigate the situation were ongoing with the Botswana Defence Force and the Botswana Police Service having been working tirelessly to provide emergency relief. 

Despite the profound challenges, Ms Mophuting expressed gratitude for the outpouring of support from the community, noting that neighbours have offered accommodation and assistance in different ways to those in need. She urged Batswana to continue opening their hearts to provide help during such difficult times. 

The assistant minister also highlighted that the Dikeledi cyclone was a wake-up call that laid bare the urgent need for more comprehensive disaster response plans, greater investment in resilience building initiatives, and a more substantial funding commitment to mitigate the damage caused by future natural disasters. 

Ms Tsietsego King of Mogoditshane shared the emotional turmoil that the disaster brought upon her, describing how the loss of her house and valuable possessions when the roof of her house got blown away, had altered her life. The resident also lost two vehicles which got damaged during the downpours. 

“The sense of despair has been palpable as we face the daunting task of rebuilding lives from the ground up,” Ms King said, as she shared how her son also got injured as he got hit by a brick when the wall collapsed. ENDS

Source : BOPA

Author : Lesedi Thatayamodimo

Location : Metsimotlhabe

Event : Interview

Date : 19 Jan 2025