27 Sep 2017

Residents of Mogapi have acknowledged and commended the proposed Stock Theft Act Amendment Bill, Arms and Ammunition Act Amendment Bill and Cyber Crime and Computer Related Crime Amendment

Bill that were presented to them by the Minister of Defence Justice and Security Mr Shaw Kgathi during a kgotla meeting he addressed at the village on Monday.

The residents said the proposed amendment bills would help curb  the rising crime  of stock theft, cybercrime or Internet related crime as well as crime related to the use of firearms.

Mr Kgathi said  the proposed Stock Theft Act Amendment Bill suggests that imprisonment of perpetrators found guilty of the stock theft offence should be increased from five years to 12 years imprisonment and 15 years for perpetual livestock thieves.

He also mentioned that any tool or instrument such as fire arms and vehicles used in the commission of the offence would be confiscated by the police and held as evidence.

He said the release of the items and vehicle would be determined by the outcome of the court case upon completion.

Mr Kgathi further mentioned that clause four  of the amendment bill indicated that fresh produce and butchery owners who had been found to have any connection with stock theft crimes or had aided or conspired with the criminals would have their trade licenses cancelled.

He also mentioned that the proposed amendment of clause nine  of the Arms and Ammunition Act stipulated that any civilian who owned a fire arm or pistol should have the items registered where they also had to specify where the weapons were located.

He said owners of arms were also obliged to seek permission or inform the police when travelling anywhere with their firearms.

Further, he said the transfer of arms or sale of the fire arms should be registered accordingly.

He added that people who fixed or serviced fire arms were also required to register with the authorities.

He said the proposed amendment sought to monitor and curb arms and ammunition crime related incidents.

Meanwhile, regarding the proposed Cyber Crime and Computer Related Crime Amendment Bill, Mr Kgathi indicated that the move  was aimed at protecting Batswana from the various cyber space or Internet related crimes.

He said the law was enacted in 2007 but needed to be amended due to the ever changing cyber space crimes and technology as a whole.

He said a person found with stolen computer device and having unauthorised access to the computer device was liable to a fine of up to P20 000.

Further, he said those that had been found to have intercepted government communication systems or information would be liable to P40 000 fine.

He said if a person interrupted government Information Technology systems or installed a virus to interrupt government electronic communication systems, the perpetrator would be liable to a fine of a P100 000.

He said Cyber Harassment where someone sent offensive or unwanted messages and pictures to the other person’s phone or computer would be an offence where perpetrators would  face the wrath of the law.

He added the Cyber Stalking whereby a person maliciously used electronic communication of an offensive nature, to harass person threaten, disturb peace with an intension to place fear to someone so that they fear for their safety or immediate family is against the law and culprits apprehended.

He also noted revenge pornography where one used  electronic communication to disclose or publish a private sexual photograph without the consent of a person who appeared in the photo was an offence.

Further, when responding to residents concern that the number of new  churches was spiraling and  people complaining of paying  in order to get help, the lawmaker warned residents against fake pastors or prophets noting that people had been warned numerous times about such people.

He said Batswana should be more vigilant to avoid being swindled of their moneys by the said pastors and prophets.

He explained that Botswana was a free country and people were free to worship and make contributions in churches they wanted. Ends