Fire disaster that nearly spoiled the 2023 edition of the Gazoo Racing 1000 Kalahari Botswana Desert Race popularly known as Mantshwabisi, which returned to our shores after five-year absence, has exposed security and safety lapses that threatened to discredit the popular race.
We, however, strongly hold the notion that Mantshwabisi is not a bad idea after all.
There is no denying that the desert race is a crowd popular where people of different characters meet to entertain themselves. It is also a fact that businesses across the strata also did cash millions of pula as the Minister of Environment and Tourism Philda Kereng had anticipated when addressing the press on the eve of the race.
Organisers of the race might have failed to tighten up security and safety screws for the duration of the race by ensuring that they curb any possible untoward developments from spoiling what looked like a great event.
It was touching that about 49 motor vehicles were torched by the inferno that was alleged sparked by one or two of the informal sector operators who were allegedly braaing some food stuff just in the middle of the parked motor vehicles most of which were left unattended.
We condemn this behaviour as greedy, irresponsible and reckless. At events like this, people should not be driven by the gluttonous desire to maximise profit, rather they should choose the right places to do their business where risk is minimal.
It goes without saying that had the event organisers employed the cheapest security company in town, to patrol the area at a nominal fee they could have prevented this unfortunate disaster. Indeed, they could have picked the bad business idea of cooking in the midst of vehicles, at the earliest possible time.
We are concerned that the event organisers seemed solely concerned with profit making at the expense of the safety and security of the masses that had thronged the weekend event. We should thank God that the inferno did not turn the Jwaneng town upside down. The Jwaneng Town Council and its stakeholders could have done better in their response to the inferno. Their readiness was visibly disastrous. They can do much better in future by ensuring that they have serviceable fire engines on standby, for just in case.
Some of these incidents might appear isolated but they have potential of spoiling our hard-earned reputation as a country given that we have been successfully hosting the races with other nations eyeing the opportunity. Of course, it is regretful that in the past, there were reported nasty incidents like the one in which a woman was allegedly raped before her unknown assailants stabbed her to death. These are bad spoilers.
It is, however, good news that those suspected to have started the fire are in police custody to answer for their misdeeds.
Today's thought
“Prudent investing is about ensuring the safety of principal and reasonable returns.”
– Hendrith Vanlon Smith Jr.
