Africa-Press – Botswana. It is business as usual at the Ramokgwebana border despite a bus accident that claimed the life of a staff member on June 11.
Ramokgwebana border post, one of the busiest entry points in the northern part of Botswana, had its full shift of 16 staff members and a supervisor involved in the accident along A3 20 kilometres from the Francistown.
The deceased, who hails from Mmadinare, was with other 39 employees and the driver, when the LAWA Holdings bus they were travelling in overturned.
The BURS employees were on their way home from a retreat in Kasane.
Addressing a media conference on Tuesday, Botswana Unified Revenue Services (BURS) General Manager (North), Mr Patrick Mavuma said services at the border post were moving in smooth gear despite a shortage of staff occasioned by the accident.
Mr Mavuma said that the Ramokgwebana border post was the most affected station of all the seven stations that the victims came from and plans have been put in place to ensure business continuity.
Affected staff members from the Francistown office, Matsiloje border, Sowa Airstrip, Letlhakane, Letlhakane office and PG Matante International Airport were involved in the Sunday night road accident.
He told the media that the remaining 16 staff members have been engaged to work from 0600hrs to 2200hrs and it was business as usual though a little strenuous.
“There shouldn’t be any panic because the remaining 16 staff members are on shift to provide daily services,” Mr Mavuma said.
He explained that the intention was to pull employees from other stations to augment staff at the Ramokgwebana border.
BURS General Manager (Communications), Ms Mable Bolele informed the media that out of the 40 victims, 26 employees were treated for minor injuries and released whilst the 13 remain hospitalised.
She explained that of those hospitalised, six (6) were admitted at Nyangabgwe Referral Hospital, four (4) at Tati River Clinic whilst three (3) were at Francistown Academic Hospital.
Ms Bolele stated that the executive management of Burs was in contact with all the victims and their families, adding that they had visited those admitted at the three hospitals.
Still at the presser, BURS Acting Director for Human Resources, Ms Grace Siamisang indicated that plans were in place to roll out counselling for the victims and their families.
“These counselling sessions will be done in groups and on one-on-one basis,” she added.
Meanwhile, BURS Acting Commissioner General, Ms Motsisi Mongati, senior officials and some board members visited the Ramokgwebana border post to commiserate with the staff.
Ms Mongati informed the staff that they decided to visit the post because it recorded the highest number of accident victims and lost an employee during the accident. She also indicated that the post had again lost another staff member due to illness during the same period.
She told them that BURS was making arrangements for relief staff from other BURS offices and appealed to them to rest assured that BURS will support them at all times.
The officer in charge at Ramokgwebana border post, Mr Lucky Vincent also underscored that services at the border were not interrupted.
The acting commissioner and her delegation also visited the scene of the incident where they laid some flowers to remember the deceased employee before visiting Mmadinare to pay their condolence to the bereaved family.
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