10 Mar 2014

The Minister for Presidential Affairs and Public Administration Mr Mokgweetsi Masisi says district disaster management committees (DDMC) are responsible for responding to disaster and emergency situations in their respective districts.

He said the committees were under the leadership of district commissioners and membership included representatives from other departments such as Botswana Police Service, Botswana Defence Force, Botswana Red Cross and Fire Brigade.

Minister Masisi said during disaster emergency situations, the public could call the police at 999, district commissioners numbers specific to each district, kgosi or a social worker numbers specific to each village. He said in towns and cities, the public could in addition call the fire brigade at 998.

The National Disaster Management Office has a toll free number 0800600130 accessible through land lines, be Mobile and Orange during working hours and the minister said efforts were underway to connect to Mascom network.

Minister Masisi said DDMCs were always on high alert especially during the rainy season to respond to such disaster situations. He said all the districts stock relief materials such as tents, tapulins and generators in preparation for such situations.

He said in addition, the National Disaster Management Office had stocks in Gaborone and Dukwi to back up the districts.

The minister said at the beginning of every rainfall season, the districts were reminded to unblock culverts and bridges through a national preparedness workshop and through formal communication.

He also said short messages were regularly sent to areas that were likely to be affected by disaster, adding they plan to develop a web based early warning system using the ISBDT platform.

This would reach out to mobile phones, television sets and network computers. Minister Masisi said various public awareness materials were regularly distributed during workshops and trade fairs.

He was responding to a question from Gaborone West South MP Mr Botsalo Ntuane who wanted to know measures in place to address emergency and disaster situations such as flash floods that occurred in Gaborone on Tuesday, March 4.

MP Ntuane further asked the minister to state the authority or office for affected residents to call in such situations and if toll free numbers were available.

He also wanted to know the level of preparedness of disaster and emergency crews. ENDS