19 Nov 2015

The Minister of Defence, Justice and Security, Mr Shaw Kgathi says the Botswana Defence Force (BDF) reserve has never been activated since the inception of the BDF because of the unsustainable high operational and administrative costs.

He said in 2010 a small volunteer force was activated to assist in anti-poaching activities, and that the volunteer force was subsequently disbanded after achieving the mission. Minister Kgathi also stated that the mandate of the BDF was the defence of the territorial integrity of Botswana whereas law enforcement was the purview of the Botswana Police Service.

“It is not my ministry’s priority currently to activate or engage a reserve force for law enforcement,” he said. Mr Kgathi said the ministry’s priority was to ensure that the BPS was capacitated in terms of manpower, transport and all the necessary equipment for the fulfillment of its mandate.

He said the BDF was fully engaged in anti-poaching activities, and that it also provides support to the BPS in crime prevention and border security patrols as well as providing disaster relief interventions.

The MP for Mmadinare, Mr Kefentse Mzwinila wanted the minister to state the occasions and the contexts in which the whole or part of the defence force reserve has been employed since the inception of BDF. Ends