14 Mar 2022

Minister for Presidential Affairs, Governance and Public Administration has admitted that crime and violent criminal activities are on the rise in Botswana. 

Mr Kabo Morwaeng said this in response to a question in Parliament on Friday, on behalf of the Ministry of Defence, Justice and Security.

Mr Morwaeng said the national crime statistics showed an increase in violent crime such as murder, rape, defilement, threat to kill and robbery. 

He said the total number of cases for the crimes in 2020 was 5 823, while the cases increased by 13 per cent to 6 599 in 2021. 

He said the annual statistics for 2022, however had not been completed. “The most prominent forms of violent crimes this year were rape, defilement and robbery. Illegal firearms are a concern to security organs as they are used increasingly in criminal activities such as armed robbery and poaching,” he said. 

The minister explained that comprehensive plans such as patrols, special operations, deployment of officers at borders, stop, questions and search as well as armed escorts, were put in place to mitigate the situation. 

He said strategies were also implemented to tackle emerging crimes.  “The Botswana Police Service continues to have presence on the streets and crime hotpots. 

As a further strategy to increase visibility around the country law enforcement agencies in particular, the police and the Botswana Defence Force carry out joint operations,” he said. 

He said another plan was to roll out the safer city (public CCTV cameras) project to all major towns around the country to enhance detection of criminals. 

He further said he was aware that illegal firearms had increased in the country, adding investigations were ongoing to find out why they had increased. 

Gaborone North MP, Mr Mpho Balopi had asked the minister whether he was aware that violent crime had increased, state recent statistics for violent crimes and what was being done to address the situation. Ends