20 Feb 2014

About 19 Botswana Power Corporation (BPC) officers in Lobatse were affected by the spraying of the Chlorpyrifos insecticide in their offices in 2013, the Minister of Minerals, Energy and Water Resources Mr Kitso Mokaila has said.

Responding to a parliamentary question on Tuesday, February 18, Minister Mokaila said it took two weeks for the affected officers to receive medical attention.

Minister Mokaila said the company engaged sprayed the insecticide during the weekends, and officers were met by a foul smell on Monday when they reported for duty.

He said the concerned officers called human resources office in Gaborone to notify that they could not occupy the building but they were actually met with threats of possible termination of employment.

Minister Mokaila was responding to a question from MP for Lobatse, Mr Nehemiah Modubule who wanted to know the number of employees affected by the spraying of the insecticide and whether they were taken for medical examination following the incident. ENDS