09 Nov 2015

President Lt Gen. Seretse Khama Ian Khama says the government is developing a new national security strategy aimed at addressing challenges posed by emerging world trends such as cybercrime, human trafficking and trans-national organised crime.

Delivering the State-of-the-Nation-Address (SONA) in Parliament yesterday (November 9), President Khama explained that the governance, safety and security thematic working group (TWG) has identified these emerging world trends as critical priorities.

Furthermore, he said money laundering, border security, fraud, aviation security and diamond security as well as terrorism were some of the issues identified as critical priorities by the thematic working group.

President Khama said the government has decided to develop a new national security strategy as a critical National Development Plan 11 milestone. 

He said the national security strategy would be used to address the emerging world trends and other challenges.

“Here it may be noted that in a globalised world, the potential threats to any nation’s security are as much economic and social as political and defence related. 

As such, national security must be addressed holistically as it is a critical factor for ensuring domestic peace and prosperity,” President Khama said.

He said there was need to ensure that up to date human resources as well as infrastructure were in place for dealing with emerging security threats.

Regarding the rule of law, the President said the government was leveraging on information communication technology to modernising courts’ capacity to dispense timely and fair justice. 

He also said the development of new sentencing policy, which encompasses alternatives to imprisonment, was near completion. 

He stated that the policy would be brought to Parliament soon.

President Khama explained that the government has managed to reduce the waiting period for completion of court cases. 

He said the government has managed to introduce a magistrate court in Bobonong, while three additional courts would be introduced in Nata, Shakawe and Kang.

“The judiciary has also continued in its efforts to bring justice closer to the people through the introduction of initiatives such as the mobile traffic courts. 

The special courts for stock theft, maintenance, small claims and traffic have proved effective. Resources permitting, it is our intention to roll out these courts to all districts,” he said.

President Khama also said plans were underway to take Legal Aid services to Maun, Tsabong and Kasane. The project currently operates from the Attorney General’s Chambers in Gaborone and Francistown only.

“The demand for these services has steadily increased. As at the end of May 2015, almost 12 000 applications for the Legal Aid had been received in Gaborone and Francistown,” the President said.

Regarding issues of defence, President Khama said the government has continued to resource Botswana Defence Force (BDF) to enable it to be in a state of readiness for any defence related contemporary threats that may threaten the territorial integrity, sovereignty and national interests of the country. 

“The BDF is working jointly with other government departments to address issues of cyber security. 

With respect to protection of our flora and fauna, the BDF will continue to collaborate with other government and non-government stakeholders to minimise incidents of poaching,” President Khama said.

He added that the government has prioritised modernising of Botswana Police Services to enable it to face crimes involving digital computers, digital networks or material stored in digital forms.

“The police service is at an advanced stage in the process of introducing a safer city programme in order to build capabilities for policing the city of Gaborone by means of closed circuit television technology. Ends