12 Mar 2020

 Female police officers in Mahalapye have been encouraged to always strive for excellence in their line of duty. 

Officer Commanding District Number 16, Senior Superintendent Ditshweu Mphoeng said this when addressing Mahalapye female police officers during international women’s day commemoration on March 11.

He said the day was not only an opportunity to look back on progress made by women from all walks of life, but it also called for change and to celebrate acts of courage and determination by women and girls.

He said the police took issues of gender based violence seriously, adding that equality began at individual level, therefore, women needed to realise their worth.

Senior Supt Mphoeng appealed to women to step up, be courageous and resilient because theyr were not inferior. 

He said biblically, men and women were created and both given special blessings, therefore he urged female police officers to know that they were more than capable, hence they should not rely on men to carry out their call of duty.

“We all know that this world will mean nothing without a woman or a girl; women are stronger than anyone can imagine, so let us all celebrate their bravery and endless power today,” Senior Supt Mphoeng said.

He said the police service had a conducive and more competitive working environment for women, saying one of the two Mahalapye police stations was headed by a woman and 50 per cent of staff was women.

Prisons psychologist, Ms Onalenna Kalantle, applauded the female police officers for the great job they did, adding that they were entrusted with matters of national security. 

She said women in the police service were vulnerable to post traumatic distress due to the issues they had to deal with on a daily basis, therefore they had to master emotional intelligence.

She said women should always keep their emotions in check, since they dealt with bruised clients, while some took their frustrations out on them.

Ms Kalantle encouraged women to know themselves and how to manage relationships either at work, families or at personal level.

“Know how to filter your thoughts and meditate upon the good ones, which will help you to have a progressive working day,” she pointed.

Pastor Dichaba Kebaagetse of God’s Sanctuary Ministries said multiple obstacles remained unchanged both in law and culture, hence making it t difficult for women to rise above their limitations. 

Women and the girl child continued to be undervalued in societies at times having fewer choices and chances, compared to their male counterparts, he said. 

Pastor Kebaagetse  said providing women and girls with equal access to education, health care, descent work and representation in political, social and economic decisions would boost sustainable economies

“Time is now that everyone should look into this issue and own it, in line with the second pillar of Vision 2036 that calls for human and social development; let it be known that it is our commitment as a country that by the year 2036, Botswana will be a moral, tolerant and inclusive society, that provides equal opportunities for all,” he highlighted. ENDS