PUBLIC OFFICERS NOT FORCED TO DONATE

Vice President Slumber Tsogwane says, no public officer or those in the disciplined forces have been coerced to contribute to the Covid-19 relief fund.

VP Tsogwane said the relief fund was established to help government raise funds to assist in the fight against Covid-19.

Speaking this morning at the Office of the President as he received donations from Debswana Diamond Company and Lucara Botswana, VP Tsogwane said Botswana Defence Force and Botswana Police officers have not been coerced to contribute to the fund.

He appealed to the nation, and private companies to heed government’s call to assist in donating to the fund and in kind. He further commended public officers and all those in the private sector who are already making sacrifices to assist in donating to the fund.

Meanwhile Minister for Presidential Affairs Governance and Public Administration Kabo Morwaeng says as was promised at the commencement of the Relief Fund, government has begun the exercise of publishing names of donors.

“This is in line with our commitment to be transparent with the funds, and in order to build public confidence.”

He said names of donors are broadcast daily on Botswana Television, adding that the exercise will carry on until the Relief Fund ceases to operate.

He said Corporate bodies, societies, NGO’s, and individuals have all heeded the call to contribute to the Covid-19 Relief Fund. “We are very thankful and we plead for this kind of support to be sustained until we overcome this pandemic,” he said.