03 Mar 2015

Escalating incidents of crime associated with the youth and the number of youth languishing in prisons has prompted the Botswana Prisons Services to embark on a nation-wide anti-crime educational campaign.

The campaign entitled: My career my future, kicked off on February 2 and ended on February 26.

Addressing students at Matshekge Hill School in Bobonong recently, Botswana Prison Service assistant principal officer, Mrs Rethabile Mosotho said the campaign aimed at broadening and appreciating the noble duty of the teaching fraternity in pursuance of shaping and guiding the youth to become productive and law abiding citizens.

Mrs Mosotho said the objective of the campaign was to reduce crime amongst the youth, reduce the number of youth in prisons, encourage students to invest time in learning and define their purpose of life.

She said they have targeted youth at secondary schools to complement the efforts of schools, by sensitising students on the far reaching consequences of juvenile delinquency and how it could jeopardise their career and to a greater extent.

Mrs Mosotho stated that many times young offenders commit crime whilst under the influence of alcohol and drugs, adding that some young offenders are admitted into prisons directly from schools.

For her part, correctional officer, Ms Lesego Dijogadifele highlighted that life in prison was tough as it restricted freedom of movement; prisoners are always escorted for the rest of their life sentence even if it could be a period of 20 years sentence.

Ms Dijogadifele said stress and depression were some of the consequences prisoners normally suffered from.  

She encouraged students to take school work seriously and avoid visiting drinking spots and bars.

On her part, the school head, Mr Baboloki Bajiti appreciated the prison staff’s effort in seeing the importance of coming up with the educational campaign as it would transform some of the student who have already started taking drugs and alcohol.

He said there were always cases of students found with Marijuana in schools and also touched on the increasing number of students’ pregnancies.ENDS