RESTLESS RESIDENTS GROW INCREASINGLY DESPERATE
COUNCILLOR IN THE DARK ABOUT COVID-19 FOOD HAMPERS
Residents of Kutamogore in the Nata/Gweta Constituency are beginning to feel the grueling realities of lockdown.
With the majority of its people battling unemployment, life in the small settlement is tough at the best of times.
Four weeks into a nationwide lockdown – with an additional 21 days still to follow – and many families in the village are now without food and growing increasingly desperate.
Despite their need, the community have waited patiently for the lifeline Covid-19 Food Relief packages promised by government.
However, that hope is fast turning to anguish as the chaotic assessment by social workers has left many out in the cold.
Hungry and agitated, residents are accusing their leaders of distributing food along political and family lines.
“There’s absolutely no coordination. Some families have received two hampers in the space of two weeks while others are yet to be assessed,” blasted Nono Pagiwa.
The Kutamogore man is disturbed by the squalor in his village, something his says is even harder to bear when he sees people receiving their hampers on Btv every day.
“Why has it taken this long to assess people in Kutamogore? A village with such an alarming rate of unemployment?” demanded an emotional Pagiwa.
Another resident, Zwinzji Amos, who owns a mini-truck, told The Voice he was shocked to learn mini-truck owners were asked to register their vehicles to be used to distribute the food hampers.
“This information was never relayed to us. I’d have registered and made a little bit of cash,” he said, grimacing wistfully at the lost opportunity.
The same sentiments were shared by Venda Tanyaka, a self employed youth in the village.
“One would have thought Kutamogore, where almost everyone works at Ipepegeng, would be top of the list to be helped with the food hampers. But no, they started dishing out food in Dukwi and Nata, villages which are better off!” he exclaimed, a mystified look darkening his handsome features.
Tanyaka is adamant Kutamogore, Mosetse and Lepashe are being overlooked because they voted for an opposition councillor.
“How else do you explain that people who need food the most are being left to starve? Some people were assessed almost a month ago and to this day have not received any food hampers. This is bad, because we’re talking about extremely poor citizens who’ll never speak out against any injustice,” surmised Tanyaka, pausing to catch his breath before continuing his tirade.
“You can’t live without food. It’s just impossible. It’s even worse when you’ve imposed movement restrictions on the people,” concluded the fired-up youth.
Area councillor, Ntshima Jimani told The Voice that what the government and responsible ministers are preaching on state media is not the reality on the ground.
“People are starving!” he warned simply.
Highlighting the confusion and apparent lack of organisation surrounding the delivery of hampers, Jimani said, “As the area councillor I’ve no idea how this food is being distributed. Recently food was taken from schools and the brigade and distributed to residents without my knowledge. I have no idea who assessed the recipients!”
Laying bare the deadly urgency of the situation, the worried politician maintained that if the distribution of food is not done properly some of his constituents may die of hunger.
“There’s no how this can be done with the involvement of councillors,” reiterated the Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF) man.
