14 Aug 2013

Botswana Police Service needs to engage and educate traditional doctors about the laws relating to investigation of crimes.    

Senior Superintendent Dipheko Motube of the police's public relations unit said in an interview that in many instances, traditional doctors caused panic during searches for missing persons by proclaiming that they knew where those individuals were.

However, he said, this sometimes complicated the work of the police as it had in some cases resulted in people rioting at the instigation of claims by traditional doctors. Snr Supt Motube said culturally, traditional doctors as part of society, were often engaged to assist communities, but they should know that the police had laws that guided their working operations and these laws did not recognise traditional doctors or witchcraft in investigation of crimes.

He explained that the police relied on proof or tangible evidence, which could be presented before a court of law. He said forensic evidence like finger prints, clothing, shoe prints were allowed in their system. Snr Supt Motube said the police they had never engaged traditional doctors although in their investigations they sought help from any member of society.  

He said just like any individual in society, traditional doctors could be helpful to the police by providing any helpful information on any particular crime.  In cases where a person was reported missing, he said, police immediately instituted a search team comprising of both the police and members of the communities.

The print and electronic media was also used in such cases, he added. He noted that people get lost due to weather conditions while some lost directions at night while walking. He noted that children did get lost due to lack of knowledge of the cardinal points.

The senior police officer said if a missing person was found alive and healthy, the police would have to certify if indeed the person was lost and from there the person would be re-united with the family. He also advised the public to be vigilant and observant to the behavior of anyone close to them.

In most cases, he said, missing people might have experienced life challenges such as divorce, relationship breakups and financial problems. He said incentives were given on murder cases and in cases which the police could not find information leading to the arrest of the perpetrators. Ends