12 Dec 2016

Police officers who continue to solicit or accept bribes should be eliminated from the police service, says the Minister of Defence, Justice and Security Mr Shaw Kgathi.

The minister was speaking at the pass out parade of 336 recruit constables at Botswana Police College on Thursday.

He warned the recruits that hey would meet countless opportunities for corruption. He, however, advised them to be bold enough to resist attempts for corruption saying he has told the Police Commissioner to dismiss those who will fall into the trap without any mercy.

“You are going out there to meet lot of pollutants, your duty is to resist that pollution and remain a good police officer,” said Minister Kgathi.

The minister described the corrupt police officers as undesirable characters who are hell-bent on satisfying their personal needs at the expense of the organisational image and reputation of the country.

“Such characters do not have a place in a highly disciplined organisation such as the Botswana Police Service,” he said.

The minister also noted that the police service has developed an Anti-Corruption Strategy which the new recruits must implement.

The new recruits, he said, graduates when the police service just like elsewhere in the world is confronted with numerous challenges in the delivery of its mandate
He said technology is a welcome development that facilitates movements of goods and services as well as timely dissemination of information yet criminals have not been left behind to take advantage of it.

Minister Kgathi said the country has not been spared from the reality and effects of transnational organised crimes such as cybercrime, human trafficking, smuggling of migrants and terrorism threats.

Therefore he said it is important that police officers are continuously capacitated to deal with emerging crimes as new laws are enacted to strengthen enforcement efforts.

He added that manpower is the most resource and pride of every organisation hence Botswana Police Service should ensure that it recruit right personnel and constantly motivate them to contribute meaningfully to the organisation.

The 336 recruit constables comprised of 117 females and 219 males. ENDS