02 Nov 2021

Batswana  have been implored to embrace ex-offenders. 

According Defence, Justice and Security Minister, Mr Kagiso Mmusi failure to do so and stigmatising ex-inmates would only send them back to prison and thereby frustrate government’s rehabilitation efforts.

Mr Mmusi made the remarks during the launch of the Offender Reintegaration Programme (ORP)  in Letlhakane on recently.

The programme is in line with Vision 2036 pillar four, which aims to ensure reduction of crime and corruption. He said rehabilitating ex-offenders was not an easy task, hence the establishment of community based reintegration structures.

He said that though the prisons department had channeled all efforts towards rehabilitating offenders, they continued to experience admission of repeated offenders in prisons and noted that rehabilitation of offenders and their integration into society could only be successful and meaningful if all stakeholders participated in the process.

Mr Mmusi said it was crucial to appreciate and have confidence in the role played by the prisons department in rehabilitating offenders as that could enable society to embrace their relatives as well as friends back into the society.

He urged stakeholders such as community leaders, village development committees and religious organisations, to play a critical role in ensuring that the programme’s intended goal was achieved.

Mr Mmusi further challenged offenders to use the opportunity to demonstrate their determination to reform and restore their personalities.

Botswana Prison’s Commissioner, Ms Dinah Marathe said the programme was in response to President’s reset agenda that called for mindset change.

Commissioner Marathe indicated that offenders were capacitated with skills and empowered religiously while in prison, to ensure that they joined society as responsible men and women and ultimately employed in public institutions and private businesses.

An ex-offenders, Mr Goabaone Letswai said he was accused of part-taking in a murder incident but was acquitted by the High Court. He said though citing his family embraced him following his acquittal, society discriminated against him and that led him to commit rape.

Another ex-offender, Mr Isaac Selome who was accused of his wife’s murder said was failure to control his anger led him to commit the crime.

He however, said he had been reconciled with his family and pleading with the community to embrace them.

Kgosi Ewetsemang Retlhatloleng of Letlhakane urged the public to desist from labeling ex-offenders and giving them discriminatory names. Ends