21 Jul 2015

Botswana Defence Force (BDF) currently has 66 members on interdiction for various offences ranging from fraud, stealing by servant, drunken driving, causing death by dangerous driving and threat to kill to mention but a few.

The Minister of Defence, Justice and Security, Mr Shaw Kgathi told Parliament that the reasons for interdiction were provided for under the BDF Act Section 117 (1) which states that “where a person subject to the BDF Act is under investigation with a view to institute criminal proceedings against him, either before a civil court or court martial, the Commander or any officer so authorised by the Commander may suspend such a person from the performance of his duties pending the outcome of such an investigations or pending the outcome of proceedings arising therefrom.

Mr Kgathi further said the cases regarding the members were diverse and that some were still under investigation while others were before courts. He said they could not say with certainty when the matters would be concluded.

MP for Gabane Mmankgodi Maj. Gen. Pius Mokgware had asked the minister to state the number of members of the BDF on interdiction and when the interdictions started. He also asked the minister to state the reasons for the interdictions, the stage at which their cases were and when the cases would be resolved. Ends