09 Dec 2020

Minister of Defence, Justice and Security, Mr Kagiso Mmusi confirmed to Parliament that indeed there was cross-border crime in the Maitengwe area.

Responding to a question in Parliament on Monday, he revealed that between 2017 and 2020, the Botswana Police Service (BPS) handled a total of 11 cross border cases, in which seven involved stock theft, one motor vehicle theft, two break-ins and one common theft.

The minister highlighted that during the 2017/18 period, 37 cattle, seven goats and four donkeys were reported stolen and smuggled into Zimbabwe.

He also told the House that the BPS had since augmented patrols along the border to deter cross border crime, adding that the impending completion of Maitengwe Police Station would assist in the enhancement of patrols along the border.

Regarding assistance rendered to victims, he explained that once a report was received, the BPS carried out investigations until the case was finalised.

Nkange legislator, Dr Never Tshabang had asked the minister if he was aware that cross-border theft had increased and if he intended increasing security patrols and how he would assist victims of such cross-border crimes. Ends