26 Nov 2020

Minister of Defence, Justice and Security, Mr Kagiso Mmusi says the Botswana Police Service has recorded seven incidents in the past 10 years in Mahalapye Sub-District Council, where victims were shot by the police in the line of duty. Responding to a question in Parliament, Mr Mmusi said the incidents occurred during the arrest of suspects who were either armed or reasonably suspected to be armed and resisting arrest.

“One person was accidentally shot while police officers were attending an armed robbery,” he said. The minister noted that during that period four members of the public (suspects) lost their lives as a result of the incidents.

He further noted that in the same period, two police officers lost their lives while 18 others were brutally assaulted by the suspects. He pointed out that no compensation had been paid to any person in that period as there had to be proof of negligence or recklessness on the part of the police.

Minister Mmusi also said only one matter was before court. He further explained that there were government facilities in the Sub-district, where those who needed medical and travelling expenses associated with injuries were taken to at government’s expenses, while the victims and their families were also provided with psycho-social support.

He was also remorseful that four suspects lost their lives in the incidents, but the police had no option but to defend themselves and other members of the public. Mahalapye West MP, Mr David Tshere had asked about the number of victims that had been shot by the police in their line of duty in the Mahalapye Sub-district Council in the past 10 years and the reasons for the incidents.

He also wanted to know how many lost their lives from the incidents and how many of them had been compensated and at what cost. Mr Tshere further inquired on who was responsible for medical and travelling expenses that were associated with the injury and whether the victims and their families were provided with Psycho-social support.ends