18 Feb 2019

Parliament has learnt that there are four vacant posts in the staff complement of Letlhakane District, and that they will be filled through the Botswana Police Service promotions and transfers board which will be sitting in March 2019.

Answering a parliamentary question on behalf of Minister of Defence, Justice and Security, Assistant Minister for Presidential Affairs, Governance and Public Administration, Mr Machana Shamukuni said Letlhakane Police Station was allocated one vehicle in 2016, one in 2017 and three vehicles in 2018. He said the police station, like other police stations in the country, faced a challenge of insufficient vehicles. Mr Shamukuni said supplementary transport was sourced as and when necessary from Orapa and Rakops police stations, which fall under Letlhakane District.

The assistant minister noted that Letlhakane Police Station did have general maintenance challenges which the ministry responded to through regular minor maintenance works.Regarding furniture, he said a decision had been taken to board and replace worn out furniture during financial year 2019/2020.Letlhakane District headquarters covers Letlhakane, Orapa and Rakops police stations.

Furthermore, Mr Shamukuni said processes were ongoing for the construction of the new Letlhakane Police Station and staff houses in National Development Plan 11. He said consultants had completed the designs and were currently compiling the scope of work to pave way for the tender preparations.

He said completion of the new police station would usher in a long-term solution to the challenges of resources availability at Letlhakane Police Station and district headquarters. Boteti East MP, Mr Sethomo Lelatisitswe had asked about resources availability at Letlhakane Police Station and Letlhakane District headquarters.

He also wanted to know the number of vacant positions at the said offices, length of time they had been vacant and how this had affected service delivery.MP Lelatisitswe further wanted to know if the vehicles were sufficient, and if not, when more vehicles would be provided.He asked about the condition of offices and furniture in the two offices, and he also wanted to know which police stations were under Letlhakane District headquarters.ENDS