25 Aug 2019

President Masisi says government is committed to resourcing and empowering law enforcement agencies to enable them to effectively serve the public. 

Officially opening Mmathubudukwane police station and housing project on August 22, President Masisi said: “Our aspirations as government as envisaged in our national Vision 2036 is for Batswana to receive the highest quality of service across all sectors of the economy,” said the President.

This project, he said, was a symbol of government’s commitment to ensuring that services that impacted the lives of Batswana were brought closer to them.

He explained that this was in line with Vision 2036 pillar of governance, peace and security, which sought to achieve a crime-free environment for a sound, competitive and thriving economy.

President Masisi further said he was happy to note that between the 2015/2016 and 2019/2020 financial years, Botswana Police Service (BPS) development budget increased from P149 million to P637 million.

He noted that this would ensure completion of projects that would improve peace and security of the nation.

“In addition to the Mmathubudukwane police station, it also worth highlighting that we expect completion of the forensic science laboratory in Gaborone, the Semolale and Maitengwe police stations and staff housing as well as 12 police posts at various locations throughout the country,” noted the President. 

A total of P2 billion will be used in 45 police projects during the National Development Plan 11 (NDP 11), President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi had said.

Furthermore, Dr Masisi underscored government’s commitment to transforming Botswana from being a resource-based to a knowledge-based one.

In this regard, he said, government was committed to investing more in information and communication technologies (ICT) and transforming the education system to align it with labour market demands, both locally and internationally.

The President said this commitment would address unemployment and poverty, especially amongst the youth, who accounted for a significant proportion of the country’s population.

“Their development and employment will also ensure that they are diverted from anti-social behavior like crime and instead meaningfully engage in projects that contribute to the growth of the national economy,” he continued.

Dr Masisi said whilst ICT was a positive development and a facilitator towards globalisation, international trade as well as human development the same technology was being exploited by criminal syndicates and cartels to maximise their criminal returns.

In this regard, the President said more crime, especially fraud related was rampant and perpetuated in cyber space.

He said Botswana, as part of the global village, was also exposed to the negative effects of transnational organised crime, including human and drug trafficking, cybercrime and threat of terrorism.

President Masisi emphasised that it was against this backdrop that his government had continued to provide the necessary support and resources to law enforcement agencies as well as enactment of appropriate legislation to tackle these contemporary crimes.

For his part, Minister of Defence, Justice and Security, Mr Shaw Kgathi said Mmathubudukwane police project comprised a police station with 30 offices, 55 staff houses, football pitch and four small-sized courts.

Mr Kgathi said the project took a long time to realise, with planning having started during NDP 9.

He said he was confident that the fully-fledged police station would go a long way in improving public safety and security in the Kgatleng river villages of Dikwididi, Ramonaka, Sikwane, Mabalane and Mmathubudukwane.

The minister said the station’s central location would ensure that policing services were brought closer to the people and the new station would complement the old Sikwane police station, which was overwhelmed with increasing domestic and transnational organized crimes experienced both inland and across the border.

Chairperson of the official opening preparatory committee, Kgosi Michael Balebetse said they started fund raising for this event in February last year and managed to raise over P53 000. 

He said government also contributed P50 000, which put the total to over P100 000. ENDS