14 Apr 2014

Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Ms Botlogile Tshireletso has urged Botswana Prisons Service graduates to familiarise themselves with relevant domestic laws and the United Nations instruments governing imprisonment.

Speaking during the pass out parade of prison officers of Class 1 of 2013 at Mahalapye Prisons College on April 11, Ms Tshireletso said prisons officers need to be familiar with laws and be cautious not to commit any infringements in their interaction with offenders.

By so doing, she said this would make prisons officers realise that like any other citizen, prisoners were also entitled to their fundamental human rights.

The parade marked the end of a six-month training programme that was geared towards turning 85 young people from ordinary civillians to prisons officers.

Further, Ms Tshireletso told the officers that the world of work was full of challenges and implored the officers to liase with their superiors when they encounter situations that they could not handle.

“I congratulate you young men and women for making it this far. You should realise that this is the beginning of your careers as prisons officers. We know it was a difficult journey but through perseverance and your willingness to serve your country, you soldiered on to complete your training,” she said.

Also, she stressed that prisons services was one of the departments that were faced with acute shortage of resources including accommodation, human resources and uniforms amongst others.

“Despite the above challenges, the issue of great concern is escaping of prisoners from lawful custody and smuggling of contrabands into our prisons. These pose a great danger to public safety, prisons officials and to the prisoners themselves and must be combated by all means.”

Ms Tshireletso also said there were initiatives that were in place to effectively address some of the challenges such as computerization of the department adding that was going well and connection of the stations to the Government Data Network was about to be completed.

The introductions of modernised secure vehicles for transporting prisoners, security dog section and the use of security gadgets such as walk through metal detectors, she said were also on the cards.

“I am also informed that there are some housing projects that have been earmarked for this financial year in an endeavor to alleviate the accommodation problem faced by the department,” she said. ENDS