10 Jun 2018

Botswana Police Service under the department of traffic has built a two-bedroomed house for the family of a former late colleague in Lentsweletau.

Speaking during the handover ceremony on Friday, Commissioner of Police Mr Keabetswe Makgophe commended the director of traffic, Mr Katlholo Mosimanegape and staff as well as the community of Lentsweletau for a successful life-changing project.“The love, care, and compassion you demonstrated towards a fellow citizen and family deserve special recognition and possible emulation by other willing citizens elsewhere,” he said.

Mr Makgope stated that he was touched by the fact that following the untimely demise of Constable Barongwang in 2012, his fellow colleagues did not abandon his family, instead, they continued to offer their support in whatever way possible to an extent of rehabilitating and making improvements to his family home.

He further said by delivering this project, they had brought joy to the Barongwang family as well as restoring their dignity and self-worth.“They now have a proper place to stay,” he added.
He, however, pointed out that as a progressive police service they recognised the important and critical role played by the local community in crime prevention.

In this regard, he said they recognised that they had a social responsibility to give back to the community; a commitment they ensure by amongst others, supporting the less privileged members of the community with basic necessities such as food and shelter.Giving the project overview, Mr Mosimanegape explained that the beneficiary, Ms Tapologo Barongwang was a widow of Constable Barongwang, who died in 2012 after a short illness.

After his passing, they learnt that he was the sole breadwinner for his family as his wife was not working.

“This made life very difficult for the widow who was looking after their five young children. Making ends meet proved difficult for the young widow, clearly showing the gap Constable Barongwang left,” he said. Within the department, Mr Mosimanegape said they agreed on how they could extend a helping hand.

They learnt that there was no toilet and standpipe. “The only visible thing that was left was an unfinished structure of a house while the boundary fence was also dilapidated,” he said.

He said they agreed to make small cash contributions every month and given the amount of work that needed to be done, they decided to take things step by step. He explained that from the amount they had raised though small, they took about P1 500 to buy the family groceries in 2017 and connected a standpipe. Thereafter, he said they built a toilet then finished the structure and connected electricity and fixed the boundary fence.

Mr Mosimanegape thanked various sponsors and individuals who made the project a success. Among them, he thanked Mr Johnson Matsotsi who helped built the house free of charge and other companies such as BBS Spar, Sharps Electrical, Panda Bricks, Builders Mart, Tile Africa as well as Exclusive Tiles and Furn Mart.

The beneficiary, Ms Barongwang hailed the police and gave thanks to God. She said she believed the house was a gift from God and never thought she would ever see a day such as this one since the passing of her husband.

The 35-year-old said she and her late husband met when they were very young and she had known her for almost half of her life, therefore when he passed away, life was difficult as she had to raise five very young kids alone. Ends