15 May 2016

President Lt Gen. Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama has awarded 73 medals to prison officers during the 58^th Prison Day anniversary celebrations in Mahalapye on Saturday May 14.

Among the recipients were deputy commissioner Keneilwe Bogosing who was bestowed with the Botswana Prisons Service Medal for Long Service and Good Conduct.

The award is bestowed on members of the Botswana Prison Service who have served at least 18 years of continuous service with good conduct.

President Khama also awarded 17 officers the Botswana Prisons Service Distinguished Service Order (BPSDSO) medal.

It is awarded for meritorious service to officers with an exemplary record of at least 30 years of continuous service. Among officers who were honored with the BPSDSO award was Assistant Commissioner of Prisons Boitshepo Nfila.

Another batch of 20 officers was awarded with the Jubilee Service medal for a good service record of at least 25 years continuously with a good service record.

Also, 35 officers with at least 18 years of continuous service got medals for long service and good conduct.

This year’s theme was ‘Promoting artistic excellence-key to effective offender rehabilitation’.

The commissioner of Prisons and Rehabilitation Mr Silas Motlalekgosi said this year’s theme centered around promotion of artistic excellence as a way of rehabilitating prisoners which was one of their core mandates.

Mr Motlalekgosi said performing arts was one of the avenues that had remained untapped while possessing an enormous amount of potential, adding that their service had therefore teamed up with stakeholders from both government and private entities to explore and nurture artistic talent among the prison population especially youth category.

He also said this year’s celebration explored many ways to infuse music and dance with qualities and habits that allowed inmates to shine.

He said as with most things worth having, a culture of excellence did not just happen as it took work but the payoff was priceless.

Therefore, he noted that it was their endeavor to strive to realise full potential of each prisoner and assist them to discover and develop many hidden talents where they could be more productive.

He said prisoner rehabilitation may be a soft concept, but it was shaped by some hard disciplines, which included organizational structure, decision making procedures, talent management, creative and effective systems, measures and incentives.

He explained that these elements must be aligned with the new direction as transmission of institutional values could develop positive emotions, stimulate motivation and propel self-regulation. And thus is what they wished to do, through promoting artistic excellence ‘awaken strengthen and release talent’. ENDS