11 Jul 2016

Councillor Kabelo Lemme of Marapalalo Ward in Kanye has expressed concern about soaring crime in his area.

He sounded the warning bells at a business consultative meeting in Kanye recently noting remedial measures needed to be taken promptly.

Mr Lemme said Kanye had 14 wards and since start of the year to date, 607 offences were reported to the Botswana Police Services (BPS) and 111 had occurred in his ward, constituting 19 per cent of the crime in the village. 

He said these were alarming figures and he called on the business community, stakeholders and all affected by the crimes to come up with initiatives to tackle this monster.

“The higher the crime rate the less the business activity emphasising his area is a centre for business in the village and warned that if crimes continue eventually Kanye will not have investors coming into the village,” he said.

Councillor Lemme said they wanted to take corrective measures in the area and they are thinking of tabling a motion in order to bring a satellite police station to the area.

Special constable, Mr Phemo Releseng said there was congestion at Mongala Mall due to business activities therefore attracting crime in the area. 

He said theft was a major concern and these criminals targeted busy stores or those with few employees. He said thieves devised a strategy whereby one of the criminals would cause a distraction and the others will in-turn have the opportunity to shoplift unnoticed.

He said that some businesses do not have security check ups and this exuberates the situation.

He said there are liquor outlets in the mall and that alcohol is consumed in restricted areas and outside operating hours.

He said barber shops in the area were also crime breeding spots due selling of alcohol and marijuana.

He said it was difficult to bring these culprits to book as they used innovative ways to evade the police. 

Mr Releseng said that they also had a problem of car break-ins and women were main victims.

He said most immigrants in the area did not renew their contracts resulting in illegal immigrants roaming the village. 

Mr Sentebale Mokobe who is a village elder said illegal immigrants were used as scapegoats for the crimes committed in the area.

 He said parents did not report the illicit behaviour of their children, adding the community had to face the consequences.

He said the community should  work hand in hand with the Botswana Police Service. ENDS