05 Jun 2019

Fighting crime is not a competition, but a collective effort between the police and the community, Gumare senior magistrate Ms Onkarabile Mokone has said.

Speaking at the Ngami cluster awards ceremony held in a joint effort with the Botswana Police Service in Gumare, Ms Mokone noted that the awards should not, therefore, be seen as competition, but an initiative to recognise and inspire those who have been diligent in fighting crime.

She said fighting crime was a responsibility not only limited to the police, but the community as well. 

“Twantsho Borukutlhi was established in 1994 as a government initiative to unite the community with the police in combating crime. 

Crime does not only affect the victim, but it also affects members of the family, community, country and finally descends to the world,” she said.

She further noted that in 2008, the Botswana police saw it fit to reintegrate Twantsho Borukutlhi into clusters for the community to be watchdogs and be hands-on on possible crime facets in their areas, an initiative that had continued to bear fruit.

Ms Mokone shared that some of the crimes affecting the region included threat to kill, gender-based violence, livestock theft, alcohol and drug abuse. 

She, therefore, urged the community and the police to continue working as a team and to instill discipline on the upcoming generation to be responsible leaders of tomorrow.

For his part, Superintendent Dennis Zilawe of Gumare police said since 2008, clusters countrywide had played a major role in helping to monitor crime.

Mr Zilawe reminded all that there was no sole winner in the awards, but that all the stakeholders involved were victors as they took it upon their stride to restrain crime.  ENDS