Friday April 17, 2020 news.thevoicebw.com news.thevoicebw.com V1143 P8.50 SPEAKS FOR ITSELF (Incl VAT) IN THE LURCH: Elders in Ditshiping CRYING PROFIT OVER OUT FOR FOOD SEE PAGE 2 PREVENTION BY KABELO ADAMSON TSWANA Pride Chicken Farm, a company that belongs to Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) tycoon and Treasurer, Satar Dada, BDP has been accused of endangering TYCOON: Dada employees’ lives by disregarding covid-19 prevention protocols. Two weeks ago, President Mokg- weetsi Masisi announced stringent measures to curb the possible spread of novel corona virus, including ban- ning of gatherings of 10 people or more in one place. The new prevention protocol led not only to a close of many businesses but also to a serious scaling down of those sectors providing essential ser- vices. However at Tswana Pride, business has continued as usual with hundreds of employees turning up for work every morning at the factory located in Not- wane farms just few kilometers out- side Gaborone. When The Voice visited the enter- prise this week, fully loaded buses and mini buses kept arriving in turns to NOT AMUSED: Moyo drop off workers reporting for duty de- spite extreme social distancing regu- lations pronounced by the president. THE UGLY TURN TO PAGE 2 FACE OF Dada’s company puts employees at risk of covid-19 LOCKDOWN 600 Workers in danger SEE PAGE 7 MyMix Data Bundles, giving you more data fl exibility and options at great prices. Dial *123# or visit https://online.mascom.bw to buy. P2 20 MB P10 140 MB P18 1 GB P65 2 GB P95 2 GB P145 4 GB Valid for – 1 Day Valid for – 1 Day Valid for – 1 Day Valid for – 7 Days Valid for – 30 Days Valid for – 30 Days Terms and Conditions apply. E&OE. 2 THE VOICE FRIDAY 17.04.2020 PROFIT OVER PREVENTION FROM PAGE ONE CRYING OUT Ironically, these workers who arrived in fully loaded buses and mini buses, as The Voice has witnessed, with all seats occupied, came from Ra- motswa where a coronavirus FOR FOOD casualty has been reported. “Note that about 95 per- cent of workers are from Ra- motswa and two of them came Hungry forward after the incident to say they attended the old lady’s funeral, one of them is a cook and the other works in tears in the abattoir and these are two crowded places,” said one con- cerned worker. Ngamiland ESSENTIAL While agriculture has EXPOSED: Workers arriving at work been recognized as an essen- tial service during the period ment on the apparent fla- social distancing automati- of Extreme Social Distancing, grant disregard of the emer- cally. IN THE LURCH: concerned Tswana pride work- gency regulations, which Tswana Pride General Elders in Ditshiping ers pointed out that the com- carry stiff penalties, Dada Manager, Wayne Detroit main- pany should have scaled-down said to his knowledge the tained there was no violation on the number of employees company was in full compli- of the regulations, arguing reporting for work to avoid ance. that they load half of the car- congestion both in buses and “To my knowledge, the rying capacity on the buses BY FRANCINAH BAAITSE- MMANA However, there is anger mixed inside the factory. buses are supposed to load 50 and mini buses, despite of in with Motlaleselelo’s anguish. “Every morning around percent and employees are what The Voice witnessed. “Two women came to me, He insists the settlement’s 600 workers come here and supposed to be provided with “The driver is supposed to literally crying and on their struggles would not have been as the worst part is that we are protective clothing,” said make sure that he carries the knees as they begged me severe if the council had acted Dada. right number of passengers, not provided with protective to go to their houses to see earlier. clothing, not even masks or However, when told that which is supposed to be 50 per- “The bigger pain is that I have hand gloves,” said one disap- there was evidence to the cent of the carrying capacity. empty containers and hungry long asked the council to give pri- pointed worker, adding that contrary, the millionaire We also provide some of the children.” ority to settlements, not because they have no choice because promised to investigate and workers with protective equip- Bojanala councillor Luke they fall in my wards, but due to the job was their only source find out. ment but not all due to the Motlaleselelo’s voice crackles their isolation and dire need,” he of income. Regarding hundreds of scarcity of the clothing. with fierce emotion as he re- says, his voice now breaking with Many of the frustrated workers turning up for work Covid-19 Team leader, Pro- counts his experience of this a different emotion. workers echoed their col- at the same time, Dada said fessor Kereng Masupu could week’s visit to Quhau settle- According to Motlaleselelo, league’s sentiments to ex- the regulations allowed them not comment on the allega- ment, just outside the tourism the council only started visit- press disappointment on how because in a factory setting tions because he did not take capital Maun. ing settlements in Bojanala this the company seemed to value each person stands at their calls from The Voice or re- “One was an elder, around 50 week after the District Commis- profit more than their lives. work station far from the spond to the text messages years of age or so and the other sioner issued a warning of loom- When reached for a com- next person, implementing sent to him. was younger, about 25,” contin- ing floods in the delta. ued Motlaleselelo, who joined a “They went there to distrib- Covid-19 Village Response ute mosquito nets, check Team which went to BP patients, demon- the settlement on strate to the people Tuesday to assess how to pitch water and prepare a list bottles at their of those in need yard entrances of food ham- so as to promote pers. hand washing The list is hygiene during expected to be the COVID-19 findThe Voice newspaper wherever you are extensive. outbreak. But A mobile although I appre- Kazungula clinic was also in CONCERNED ciate the move, Kasane attendance for An- COUNCILLOR: my question is, tiretroviral Drugs Motlaleselelo since we have been (ARV) refill and gen- requesting for these Shakawe eral health care. services over the past “I was there helpless and I years, why has it been so difficult ended up crying because the suf- to do it!” fering is too much in these settle- Settlements in Bojanala re- ments!” gion include: Boro, Xaxaba, Qux- Pausing to compose him- au, Ditshiping, Daunara and Qa- self, the councilor admits he was raxao. shocked at the misery he wit- Most people in the area are nessed. dependent on tourism. With all “The 25-year-old said she has tourism activities grinding to a Nkange Maun Ramokgwebana children but they have gone for halt after the lockdown and ban Nata Tshesebe some days without food, with on travelling was enforced at the Masunga Sowa Tutume only watery tea to sustain them. beginning of this month, food is Mopipi Dukwi Tsamaya Sebina All along she had been getting running out in many homes. Orapa Francistown money through poling in the “You will recall that these delta, but because of lockdown are hard to reach areas and very she has no other source of in- Ganzi Letlhakane soon they will be locked down by Serule come. I watched her grab a bag of floods. There is no public trans- Selebi Phikwe Charleshill Tsabana, rush home to make the port in these places and it is dif- Bobonong porridge for the children before ficult for them to access basic Serowe Palapye returning for health care.” needs, including health care. After pausing again, Motlale- “Many of them have default- selelo reveals the young mother ed on medication not because of Shoshong told him she had been holding in lockdown, but because of the iso- Mahalapye her tears for days, as she had to be lation of the settlement. They Kang strong for her children. are basically a forgotten popula- “When she broke down it hit tion!” warned Motlaleselelo, his me very hard and I was so help- Molepolole voice breaking once again. Rasesa less.” Thamaga Mochudi Hukuntsi Jwaneng Moshupa Gaborone Kanye Ramotswa Lobatse Goodhope Tsabong Widest circulating newspaper in Botswana Unit 4, Plot 142, Gaborone International Finance Park, Gaborone, Botswana, Tel: 267 316 1585, Fax: 267 393 2822 P O Box 336, Francistown, Botswana, Tel: 267 241 6621, Fax: 267 241 6693 www.thevoicebw.com thevoicebw thevoicebw POLING: Way of life in Daunara news.thevoicebw.com FRIDAY 17.04.2020 THE VOICE 3 08 SMS 02A TO 16565 SMS 03A TO 16565 SMS 04A TO 16565 ETHEL MAMBO AGE: 21 OCCUPATION: Hairdresser HOBBIES: reading novels and singing FAVOURITE MEAL: Chapati SMS EXAMPLE: 03A TO 16565 SMS COST P2 PHOTOGRAPHER: TUMISANG RANKOPO ACROSS ALL NETWORKS We’re here for Botswana during the COVID-19 crisis Absa Bank Botswana has donated P1.5 million to the National COVID-19 Relief Fund in support of the efforts by the Government of Botswana in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. An additional P500,000 will be made available to support other government initiatives related to fighting the pandemic. #StaySafe absa.co.bw Absa Bank Botswana Limited (registered number BW00001237900) is regulated by the Bank of Botswana. 4 THE VOICE FRIDAY 17.04.2020 NEVER TSHABANG LELATISITSWE SETHOMO GORETETSE KEKGONEGILE TUMISO RAKGARE YANDANI BOKO WYNTER MMOLOTSI LEADING FROM QUARANTINE ast week the stituency.