25 Sep 2017

Residents of Peolwane (Block 7) location in Gaborone on September 23 started their own clean-up campaign in one of the bushes.

The campaign was aimed at thwarting the rampant criminal activities in the area.

The Saturday activity saw Peolwane residents coming together in the wee hours of the morning to clear the dense bush between their block and Marapoathutlwa (Block 8), which has and continues to be a haven for criminals.

Community members with the assistance from Botswana Police Service, Sir Seretse Khama International Airport and Medical Rescue International started cleaning up the thick scrub.

Block 7 Location 1 resident, Mr Angu Morapedi said residents saw the need to join hands to clear the thicket in a bid to get rid of the proliferating crime it caused in the area.

Another resident, also Peolwane 1 neighbourhood watch committee chairperson, Mr Oarabile Modise said the bushy area had been getting steadily worse, thus becoming a haven for criminals to carry out their illicit activities unperturbed.

“Block 7 has become a dangerous place because of this dense bush and we have since discovered that criminals use it to hide and carry out criminal activities,” he said.

“During our clean-up campaign, we found several trenches in this bush, which criminals use to hide in. This is where they also hide the stuff they could have stolen from our houses. We discovered a lot of their tools, such as makeshift step ladders within this bush,” said Modise, who was part of the clean-up.

Team doctor, Dr Lesego Sikele from the MRI Medical Rescue said they saw the need to be part of the clean-up campaign since crime affects each and everyone of us.

Inspector Armstrong Duna from Botswana Police Service SSKA, who was also part of the clean-up campaign said “this is a start, but we need to discuss with the community on how to join forces to fight crime. We need to continue being strategic in fighting crime. We cannot continue to live in fear of criminals who rob us of our hard-earned possessions. Initiatives like these help us too as the police as they lessen the burden of us fighting crime alone.”

Councillor Batlhalefeng Letlhage said she would continue rallying behind her troops in fighting crime and added that initiatives such as this one must be encouraged and supported with full might.

The clean-up was also supported by the Block 7 Ward Development Committee, Spar and Red East Construction, who are busy developing Sedilega Hospital in Block 7, a northern location with 17 cells. ENDS