17 Mar 2016

The Minister of Defence, Justice and Security, Mr Shaw Kgathi says police statistics show that serious crime has increased.

Presenting his ministry’s budget estimates for the 2016/17 financial year amounting to P8.5 billion, Mr Kgathi stated that his ministry would continue with initiatives aimed at reducing crime.

He said the police crime analysis for the year ending December 31, 2015 indicated that serious crime such as murder, homicide, theft of motor vehicles, rape, threat to kill, and stock theft have increased by 5.2 per cent compared to the same period in 2014.

He said statistics for the above criminal activities stood at 5 340 in 2014, but has increased to 5 620 in 2015.

“Stock theft still remains a major problem, and as at 8 March 2016 all the 16 policing districts were holding 1 860 stock exhibits. Our prisons are holding 501 prisoners convicted of stock theft and 57 are in remand custody,” Mr Kgathi told Parliament on Wednesday.

He urged Batswana to help the government combat stock theft and report any dubious activities to law enforcement agencies. He added that he was considering including stock theft as part of the target crimes under the new Proceeds and Instruments of Crime Act.

The minister also said road safety remains a serious concern with road traffic accidents having gone up by 7.2 per cent in 2015. He said fatal accidents and resultant causalities rose by 14 per cent and nine per cent respectively.

“The main factors contributing to these high statistics were careless driving, negligence, excessive speed, unlicensed drivers, driving under the influence of alcohol and animals on the road,” Mr Kgathi said.

He said Botswana Police Service has adopted several initiatives such as highway patrol, enhanced road policing, red light compliance enforcement and public education to combat loss of lives on the roads.

“These basic initiatives are important in reducing the risk factors that can bring about fatalities or permanent disabilities,” he said, adding that police visibility was a key factor in crime deterrence.

He also said his ministry has established a Human Trafficking (Prohibition) Committee and trained investigators, prosecutors and magistrates to combat human trafficking crimes.

On other issues, the minister informed Parliament that Botswana’s inmate population was 4 191 as at 31 December 2015.

Mr Kgathi also told Parliament that his ministry has commenced the drafting of bills amending the Botswana Defence Force Act, the Botswana Police Service Act and the Prisons Act. He said amending the acts was done in order to enhance human security in Botswana.

The ministry’s P8.5 billion budget proposal included P4.95 billion recurrent estimates and P3.58 development estimates.

From the recurrent budget, P315.5 million will be spent on the Department of Prisons and Rehabilitation while Botswana Defence Force will get P2.9 billion and Botswana Police Service P1.5 billion.

From the development budget, P4.5 million will be spent on the development of the Dukwi Refugee Camp. Botswana Defence Force will be given P3.2 billion which will cover building projects and maintenance of existing infrastructure among other things.  

Botswana Police Service will get P289. 8 million for construction of police facilities, including construction of police officers accommodation in Letlhakane and Gaborone, the construction of a forensic laboratory, police posts and a police station in Gaborone Block 10, Mmathubudukwane, Maitengwe and Semolale. Ends