17 May 2017

It has been proven that voluntarism builds trust in individuals who offer to do any job with or without any payment.

This was said by a community policing volunteer, Mr Thobogang Thithimbo, 26, of Etsha 6 in an interview.

He said being a volunteer, he was enthused by messages which were preached by Botswana Police Service towards community involvement in fighting crime.

He added that he was a law abiding citizen who believed that police officers alone could not win the war against crime, and that  being a police volunteer would help him understand the law better.

Mr Thithimbo also said being a volunteer needed an individual who had love towards the job they were undertaking.

He added that payment for such a job was not a concern.

He argued that the lack of interest by most youth in his community towards volunteering had led to some of them roaming the streets, which he did not want to be part of.

He said voluntarism showed responsibility by an individual.

He also said being exemplary to his peers and young ones in helping to fight crime was one of his mottos towards joining the community policing scheme.

He believes this could be achieved through the youth working together with elders to fight crime in their community.

He added that moving around the village on patrols wearing their uniforms made people feel secure and instilled fear to break the law.

In addition to Mr Thithimbo’s words, Etsha 6 police station commander, Mr Jobe Matende said community policing volunteers were helpful in fighting and preventing criminal activities.

He also said voluntarism was beneficial as it helped build trust in an individual, and that since its inception in Etsha 6, former policing volunteers have got jobs such as security guards and as village development committee members.

Community policing volunteers are awarded references at the end of their tenure on the programme which helps them boost their curriculum vitaes. ENDS