10 Jul 2014

It is important that excess firearms should be destroyed from time to time as they can be difficult to manage and can also become a security threat.

The deputy director of Botswana Police Service (operations), Mr Victor Paledi said this during the commemoration of International Gun Destruction day at Botswana Police College on July 9.

“We strongly believe that if you have excess stock, it could be easy for them to disappear,” Mr Paledi said. He said as such, normal procedure was to destroy any excess stock for easy management, and to safeguard the interests of the country in line with international accords.

He said criminals could gain access to large stock, hence destruction of surplus, seized, forfeited and obsolete weapons and ammunition remained critical in reducing stock, which could be available for illicit circulation.

Mr Paledi further said destruction helped to reduce the burden placed on government to manage large stock. “A total of 694 firearms are ear-marked for destruction, however it is important to note that safe destruction always poses a challenge in terms of appropriate facilities and capacity,” he said.

Furthermore, he said the country had about 25 000 rounds of ammunition, which were ready for destruction, and added that plans were underway for such undertaking.

He said Botswana remained committed to the fight against trafficking in small and light weapons and had taken steps and initiatives in that direction.

For this reason, the country was a member of international treaties that guided its legislations on regulations and administrative procedures of firearms.

Deputy Commissioner Paledi he said the country was in the process marking firearms within its jurisdiction for easy tracking and record keeping.

He also said with regard to International Tracing Instruments, Botswana had installed tools to support law enforcement agencies to prevent, investigate and address firearms related crimes.

Mr Paledi said this was done through the facilitation of information sharing and investigative cooperation between law enforcement agencies.

In addition, the deputy police commissioner pointed out that successful efforts to combat the illicit proliferation of small arms and light weapons required cooperation at all levels.

He said it was against this background that at regional level, the country through Southern African Regional Police Chiefs Cooperation Organisation (SARPCCO) continued to conduct cross boarder and simultaneous operations with neighbouring countries in order to prevent and combat illicit trafficking.

The director of Training at Botswana Police College, Senior Assistant Commissioner Goboletswe Dimeku said the destruction of the firearms was part of the country’s efforts to comply with international laws.

He said the destruction of 20 guns marked the International small arms destruction day, which was commemorated on 9 July annually.

Botswana as part of the international community commemorates this day through destroying all firearms qualified for destruction. ENDS