15 Jun 2016

Mr Kangumbe Kavetu is one of government retirees who served the country with utmost dedication.

His almost 40 years in public service showed that he was a self-determined citizen.

He left marks in departments he served;.

The 64-year-old former police officer marked his work by efficiency and excellence until ageing nailed him from his job.

Growing up with no parents braced him to be his own man at a tender age to a point that he worked day and night to accomplish all he could have attained from his parents. 

Mr Kavetu pursued his Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) certificate at Thamalakane Primary School in Maun in 1973.

Immediately after completing his primary school he then decided to join the Botswana Police Service in 1974 as he believed he possessed a rare combination of vision, fairness and understanding, crucial for an effective force officer. 

After completing training at  police college, he was posted to Mahalapye at Martin’s Drift Police Station where he served at the rank of a constable for almost 10 years.

In 1980, he was transferred to Ramotswa and promoted to the rank of a sergeant in 1986, the rank he held until he retired.

Mr Kavetu was an incredible investigator who would never tolerate any case to leak through his fingers. 

He was always dedicated to work in order to provide imperative and comprehensive evidence to nail all suspects he dealt with.

Although his job was tough as he had to solve people’s problems, baby sit them, play the cat and mouse games with bad guys; he cherished his time on the department’s efforts to maintain the country’s peace by enforcing law,.

Mr Kavetu cautiously avoided contradiction between effective law enforcement and respect for human rights during his tenor.

“I actually cherish my experience and enjoyed being a police officer because cops are well groomed, you serve your nation, learn much about your country as well as its constitution, and that disciplines you”, he said.

The Shakawe born did not lay on his back when he approached his retirement in 2003, he was still determined and dedicated to work to better his life and that of his family.

As a retired government employee he opted to continue his journey of living by joining politics upon his retirement

“Mr Kavetu fought for about a year and was successful as he got elected as a Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) councillor for Shakawe East from 2004.

He was fervently a persistent voice of his constituency for almost 10 years and in 2014 he lost elections and had to switch for something else.

“Serving the public is not a solely easy thing that even if I had to part with the council seat, up to now I still appreciate the fact that I did my part and I wish others to continue to hoist the flag, doing even more than what we the previous leaders did”, added Kavetu.

He was always motivated by his wife Ms Tirafalo Kangumbe who was always there for him brainstorming ideas together, directed him and advised him where he needed guidance.

He urged public servants to work hard to improve the lives of the people they serve by implementing government policies and programmes.

He also urged public servants to be faithful and refrain from bribery as this can tarnish their names and that of the public service. ENDS