13 Feb 2022

GABORONE - Botswana Police Service is implementing a comprehensive response plan to effectively counter the spate of cash heists around the country.

Defence, justice and security minister, Mr Kagiso Mmusi, assured Parliament on Wednesday that consultations with all critical stakeholders were ongoing with a view of finding a lasting solution to the problem.

“I do confirm that Molepolole police station has over the past three years been recording relatively high numbers of incidents of crime,” he said.

He said his ministry had noted with concern incidents of cash heists targeted at businesses especially the banking sector.

He also told MPs that he was aware that police personnel at Molepolole police station was inadequate to cope with the level of crime and size of the village.

Minister Mmusi explained that staff compliment at the station was 182 and further indicated that to relieve the main station, Lekgwapheng police post was opened in 2012.

He noted that as and when the need arose, resources were pulled from other stations to compliment staff personnel in Molepolole.

Minister Mmusi said the new Molepolole police station and 150 staff houses were planned for implementation during NDP 11 under 2020/21 financial year.

However, Mr Mmusi explained that due to financial constraints, government took a decision to only fund ongoing projects and the project was deferred and would be considered once the situation had improved.

Molepolole North MP, Mr Oabile Regoeng had asked the minister to state when the long promised Molepolole police station would be constructed.

MP Regoeng also asked if the minister was aware that the number of police at the station were inadequate to cope with the level of crime and size of the village.

Minister Mmusi was also asked to update Parliament on what was being done to curb the spate of cash heists ravaging businesses and banking sectors around the country. ENDs