UP FOR THE FIGHT: PREPARING FOR COVID-19
CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) has spread across the world with frightening speed, infecting and killing thousands in weeks. The unprecedented scourge has brought misery to most nations, bringing superpowers such as the United Kingdom, China and Italy to their knees and forcing them to go into lockdown.
Although the virus’ shadow looms large, Botswana remains one of the few countries yet to record a single case
The Voice staffer, DANIEL CHIDA, took to the streets of Gaborone to find out just how prepared Batswana are for the pandemic and what they are doing to protect themselves.
CARLOS KAISARA
Coronavirus is deadly and I use only approved and certified hand sanitisers frequently as advised by the health sector.
I am also avoiding crowded places like banks and now I work from my home. I also monitor my family, especially the kids, who may go astray and catch the virus outside. On top of that, I do read and follow credible news for updates as we don’t know what the future has for us.
OAITSE CHANGARA
I am a bus conductor on the Gaborone-maun route and we have some sanitisers which we use before embarking on a journey.
We also have water in transit to wash hands along the way. We have introduced a new system where we disinfect our buses before each trip to try and kill all the germs that may bring some infection. This week, we called Nolly Craft, a disinfecting company, to demonstrate at the bus rank as a way to raise awareness to other operators because we are all in this together.
MMOLOTSI MOTSISI
There is nothing much we have done as street hawkers because people here only care about profit.
We have youths who are new in the business but never find time to discuss such issues because their primary focus is to make money.
KGOTLAETSILE KGOTLAETSILE
As taxi operators, we are behind because as we speak - Wednesday 25th March - no one has a mask or protective gloves but we pick up and drop people off all day.
We do come in contact with money from different hands but still there are no sanitisers or soaps in our cars. We appeal to government to intervene and help us before it’s too late. If great care is not taken, this industry of ours will be the one spreading the virus!
MATHATA ODIHETSE
We had expected that by now government would have provided us with some gloves but there is nothing.
We want at least two pairs, one for the morning and one for the afternoon.
ONE TEBOGO
I sell second-hand clothes and bails from Dubai but since we have lots of customers, we make sure we avoid congestion.
We don’t have masks but we have hand sanitisers, which we expect our customers to use. We expect them to cooperate even going forward.
ELIAS SENTHUFE
We have to limit travelling, both locally and abroad, as this may help spread the virus.
Parents should also keep their kids at home instead of letting them go to the malls as this defeats the whole purpose of closing schools. We have to take extra measures because once the virus is here, it will not be controllable. We may be safe now but who knows what may happen tomorrow?