02 Jun 2015

Botswana Police District No 1 Crime Prevention executive committee chairperson, Kgosi Paul Motshwane has implored the youth to refrain from engaging in criminal activities.

Speaking at the Tonota police crime prevention committees’ sports tournament recently, Kgosi Motshwane, who is also Gerald Estate Customary Court president, said statistics indicated that last year, a total of 1 279 youth were involved in crime as both perpetrators and victims.

He said this year, between January and May, 432 youth were involved in crime as perpetrators and victims.  Kgosi Motshwane explained that the statistics further indicated that last year, there were 687 victims and 229 targets.

He said the majority of victims were females while perpetrators were males, and thus implored the youth to desist from criminal activities saying crime did not only deny them chances of being employed but also put their lives at risk.

Kgosi Motshwane said government had introduced many youth empowerment programmes which he said they should take advantage of instead of engaging in criminal activities.

Nonetheless, he commended Tonota police for organising the tournament, which he said would not only be about sports but also an information sharing activity because the youth failed to attend Kgotla meetings and workshops aimed at empowering them. 

One of the participants, Mr Keolopile Mompoloki urged his colleagues not to only concentrate on winning the matches but also take the day’s messages seriously.

Mr Mompoloki also encouraged them to take advantage of the Tebelopele stall and test for HIV.

Tonota business community chairperson, Mr Tapologo Ngake encouraged the youth to venture into businesses and refrain from criminal activities.

The tournament objectives included disseminating information to the youth on existing government empowerment programmes as well as identifying sporting talent among the youth and further build rapport between the police and the youth.

Different government departments, among the Gender Affairs Department and Youth, Sport and Culture shared information with the youth via their stalls.

The day’s activities attracted youth from all Tonota policing areas such as Mabesekwa, Ditladi, Shashe Bridge, Semotswane, Mandunyane, Tlhanasanku, Bonwantsa, Bonwanotshi and Sepalola. ENDS