21 Feb 2025

President Advocate Duma Boko yesterday visited flood areas in Gaborone and its peripheries which were recently affected by  severe flooding.

Among the places he visited was Jamal Road in Tlokweng, which was recently closed due to severe flooding resulting from torrential rains that have wreaked havoc on roads, private properties, and public infrastructure across Botswana. The flood has tragically claimed one life in Mmannoko.

During an interview after touring, President Boko acknowledged the collaboration of Batswana with emergency response teams from the Botswana Police Service (BPS), Botswana Defense Force (BDF), and the Disaster Management Command in addressing the crisis.

Accompanied by Minister of Health, Dr Stephen Modise, President Boko reassured the nation of the government’s commitment to provide support and relief to all victims affected by flood.

“Our main objective, as government, is to ensure safety for all to preserve lives, first,” he stated.

He emphasised that despite current budget constraints and other government priorities, the administration would prioritise swift action to provide essential aid to those in need.

“I want to assure all those affected of government’s support, and that with additional rainfall expected in the coming days, we will remain on alert to mobilise the necessary manpower and resources,” he added.

President Boko affirmed that the BPS, BDF, and other disaster management agencies were well-prepared to offer the needed relief and support. He commended the efforts of both the BPS and BDF for their joint operations in rescuing numerous victims displaced by the flooding.

Encouraging public vigilance, President Boko urged citizens to adhere to precautionary measures and safety guidelines established by response agencies to safeguard lives until normalcy was restored.

The President also visited families sheltered at the Gaborone Senior Secondary School, designated as an evacuation center for flood victims in the Gaborone Central constituency. Additionally, he met with evacuated families in Kgatleng, who were forced to seek refuge with relatives and in schools due to the floodwaters.

Kgatleng District Commissioner Ms Kolobetso Sejakgomo reported that some homes in the district were submerged by water from the Notwane River.

She noted that the flooding was unexpected, arising early on Thursday after an uneventful night of rainfall.

Ms Sejakgomo specified that the villages most affected include Morwa, Oodi, Mochudi, and several ‘river villages’ in Kgatleng East bordering the Madikwe River.

She also informed that two bridges in Mochudi at Boseja and Mmapole Wards were closed, leaving only one bridge operational at Makgophana. ENDS