The Voice (Botswana)

LOCAL CELEBRITIE­S CALL FOR VACCINATIO­NS

Hashtag gains momentum

- sharonm@thevoicebw.com @sharonmath­ala BY SHARON MATHALA

AS tension and anxiety reach their peak, with a staggering 4,008 Covid-19 positive cases registered in the space of three days, local celebritie­s have taken to social media to express their concern.

With Botswana now marked as one of the nations currently registerin­g the most cases per 1,000 citizens daily, society’s high flyers view this as a scenario that could have been avoided.

They feel government should be doing more to secure vaccinatio­ns for the country. As of 16th July, almost six months after the vaccine first became available, the number of fully vaccinated residents stood at 116,147. Government has since issued a statement announcing a further delay in the arrival of vaccines, which were initially scheduled for the end of June but have now been earmarked for August.

This proved a boiling point of sorts for the stars who, under the campaign #Vaccinateb­atswana, have started to use their masses and muscle for their voices to be heard.

Voice Entertainm­ent chose some of the celeb posts that have gained traction:

DATOSEIKO: The Government is failing the citizens of this country every single day. We have witnessed the incompeten­ce way too many times, but they still have the audacity to stand before us and still make promises with no shame covid funds Di jelwe, no vaccines or facilities. Just vibes.

KAGISO SENTO: #Vaccinateb­atswana

MARANG MOLOSIWA: We are dying Vaccinate us please! Young people are dropping like flies. We are dying. @Bwgovernme­nt @ Officialma­sisi

GOGONTLEJA­NG PHALADI:

#Vaccinateb­atswana

TEBOGO LEBOTSE:

#Vaccinateb­atswana It’s a dire situation here! Young and old dying. We are scared, angry, and disillusio­ned.

MC ALPHA: From losing close friends and family members we can pause other projects and focus on vaccinatin­g the nation face with rolling eyesface with rolling eyes bathong ha le Kgore madi a corruption ha e le mo go sweunyana ga le 14 gore tuuface with rolling eyesface with rolling eyes# vaccinateb­atswana #ENDSOE

By mid afternoon, Tuesday, the hashtag was the most trending in Botswana with many other social media users calling on government to take the matter seriously.

 ??  ?? Marang Molosiwa Selolwane
Marang Molosiwa Selolwane
 ??  ?? Gogontleja­ng Phaladi
Gogontleja­ng Phaladi
 ??  ?? Tebogo Lebotse
Tebogo Lebotse
 ??  ?? Kagiso Sento
Kagiso Sento
 ??  ?? Dato Seiko
Dato Seiko

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