10 Aug 2021

Parliament has heard that 41 out of 340 successful candidates for special constables recruited for the year 2020 have been put on a waiting list and will be absorbed once vacancies are available.

“The successful candidates could not be absorbed due to limited vacancies at the time because the quota had already been met.

Officers were duly notified that they would be considered when vacancies were available,” said Assistant Minister for Presidential Affairs, Governance and Public Administration, Mr Dumezweni Mthimkhulu in response to a question on Monday.

Mr Mthimkhulu added their absorption would however be subject to them passing security vetting and medical examinations to ensure that fit and proper candidates are selected, taking into consideration the length of time one would have been on the waiting list.

The assistant minister was answering the question on behalf of Minister of Defence, Justice and Security, Mr Kagiso Mmusi.

Parliament also heard that recruitment followed advertisement of 340 vacant positions within the Botswana Police Service where applications were received and candidates assessed.

“The advertisement was followed by a rigorous assessment process where 381 special constables passed the interviews, out of which 340 were absorbed,” he explained.

Nkange MP, Dr Never Tshabang had asked the minister if he was aware that there were some special constables who were selected in January last year for training with the Botswana Police College.

Dr Tshabang indicated that the officers had passed interviews and medical examination but were returned to their respective stations and kept waiting without further response. BOPA