19 Jun 2018

Parliament has on June 18 passed the bill seeking to criminalise drug- related offences in conformity with the United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances.

Prior to passing it, legislators who took part in the debate unanimously embraced the bill, saying it was a necessary instrument that would help curtail the growing problem of drug use in the country.

In his comment, Takatokwane MP Mr Ngaka Ngaka expressed delight that the bill also proposed for the setting up of rehabilitation centres for users of illicit drugs.

He said such centres would help restore the lives of drug users, who very often have no prospects of a better future as a result of their drug use habits.

Mr Ngaka said in setting up the rehabilitation centres, it was important to ensure that they were resourced with the relevant and properly qualified medical personnel instead of resourcing them with only social workers.

Such a step, he said would be in appreciation of the fact that rehabilitating a drug user was a complex process that required expertise in the various spheres of life.

MP for Mahalapye West Mr Joseph Molefe called for stern action to be taken against kingpins in the illicit drugs industry, observing how often such people were left unpunished in the process of enforcing laws on unlawful drugs.

On another issue, Mr Molefe suggested that since government often had to grapple with lack of funds for projects, it would be prudent to consider using existing government facilities as rehabilitation centres.

He noted that it would be sad if the centres would not be set up on time on account of there being no funds to construct facilities.

Dr Tlamelo Mmatli noted that drug use was a persistent problem in Botswana because of the greed of people dealing in drugs as well as due to the hopelessness of drug users regarding their state of life.

The Molepolole South MP thus highlighted the importance of rehabilitating drug users as they needed all the help they could get to get their lives back on track.

Dr Mmatli also said it was critical that those responsible for enforcing the law against drugs and drug use be afforded world-class training so that they could effectively carry out their duties.

Issuing a word of caution, the MP said in trying to uproot the problem, the issue of human rights should be looked into.

He said parading suspects publicly either on television or through whatever means could infringe on their rights, particularly when they were to be later found to be innocent.

MP Vincent Seretse of Lentsweletau/Mmopane said drugs were bad as they fueled crime and took away people’s spirit of humanness.

Welcoming the provision for the establishment of rehabilitation centres, Mr Seretse also appealed to all to help enforcers of the anti-drugs laws, as everybody’s role was critical in the efforts to win the war against illicit drugs.

MP for Gaborone North Mr Haskings Nkaigwa noted that once in force, the law should not be used to target certain individuals, but that it should be applied evenhandedly.

When presenting the bill last week, Defence, Justice and Security minister Mr Shaw Kgathi had pointed out that the Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Bill had noted that while offences relating to narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances were dealt with under the Medicines and Related Substances Act, the Act did not adequately address all the challenges associated with illicit dealings in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.

The bill, he said, was therefore intended to provide strong and targeted legislation to address such challenges. ENDS