19 Dec 2021

The Reset agenda is equally applicable to the bound as it is for the free, First Lady Ms Neo Masisi told prison inmates at Selebi-Phikwe Prison Friday. Ms Masisi, who was celebrating an early Christmas with Selebi Phikwe prison staff said the reset agenda did not only apply to Botswana Prison Services employees but should also trickle down to inmates for them to expererince real change in their lives. “Let us have a personal reset agenda and personal mindset change.

Let us change the way we think and the way we do things,” she said.

To realise the change, she said prisoners should accept the newly introduced offender rehabilitation programmes as well as the reintegration strategy which would help mould their behaviour, promote the spirit of forgiveness and unity between the offender and the victim and to avoid re-offending.

The programme, she said would also ensure that prisoners joined the society fully rehabilitated and ready to contribute to the development of the country and abide by the set laws.

Further, they would allow for effective involvement of the community in rehabilitation and reintegration and reconciliation of offenders with victims or their families.

Ms Masisi also encouraged prisoners to take their training seriously and use knowledge imparted to them to earn a living and take care of their families as well as contribute positively to the development of the country.

In addition, she urged BPS management to also evaluate the programmes and give feedback on the public’s response to them. She applauded BPS for introducing, The Voice of the Perpetrator, an anti- gender based violence programme, which she said would go a long way in reforming prisoner’s mindsets towards gender- based violence.

For her part, BPS Commissioner, Ms Dinah Marathe thanked Ms Masisi for her support of BPS saying the First Lady had been gracing their Christmas celebrations focusing mainly on prisoners since 2018. She said prisoners also needed love and support for them to become responsible citizens and reintegrate well into society.

She also thanked the First Lady for giving prisoners dignity by giving them Christmas gifts and football kit, adding such assured them that government and the public cared for and loved and them.

Ms Marathe said the fight against GBV, which was the First Lady’s priority, was a serious concern to the country and could not be addressed without the voice of the perpetrator hence the BPS came up with programmes geared at rehabilitating and re-integrating offenders.

One of the inmates, Mbai Mbai thanked the First Lady for the gifts and choosing to celebrate Christmas with them. He said such gestures gave them assurance that they were also loved despite the circumstances they were in.
“We love you and the nation of Botswana. Send our greetings to President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi,” he said. ends