19 Nov 2015

The Minister of Defence, Justice and Security says his ministry is not aware of any unprecedented lawlessness at Khwee and Metsiaela/Buuhe ward in Letlhakane over the past two years.

Mr Shaw Kgathi, however, said there were incidents in which five lives were lost through violence at Khwee, and that there were no records of any cases that occurred at Metsiaela/Buuhe ward during the period under reference.

He further said the Botswana Police Service (BPS) has crime prevention strategies in place to address general crime in the village, and that these include regular and intensified mobile and foot patrols by police officers, police volunteers and clusters and regular raids targeting violation of the Liquor Act.

Mr Kgathi further said he was not aware of any case of loss of life recorded that came about as a result of negligence by law enforcement officers. He, however, said excessive use of traditional beer was common in Khwee leading to acts of violence some of which was directly linked to the five lives lost.

The Member of Parliament for Boteti East, Mr Sethomo Lelatisitswe had asked the minister to appraise Parliament on the status of lawlessness at Khwee and Metsiaela/Buuhe ward in Letlhakane which resulted in the loss of life the past two years, and to state the strategies in place to address the anomaly. 

He also wanted to know how many amongst the cases involved resulted from negligence by law enforcement officers and how many happened under the influence of alcohol. Ends