24 Mar 2022

Government has not abandoned plans to build a police station in Matsiloje. 

However, with the outbreak of COVID-19, it has had to prioritise saving lives, in the process deferring projects, among which was the station.

  Minister of Defence, Justice and Security, Mr Kagiso Mmusi, said this when addressing a kgotla meeting in Matsiloje this week.

He assured residents that his ministry and that of State President were conducting regular meetings with neighbouring countries to come up with ways of curbing growing cross-border crime, which in some cases included the use of weapons of war. 

Minister Mmusi said in a bid to fight surging crime, Botswana Police Service (BPS) had increased the number of Special Constables.

BPS had been authorised to employ 1 000 recruits this financial year, of whom 500 were already in training, he said. 

Mr Mmusi promised the residents that BPS would increase the number of police officers in their area to combat cross-border crime. 

He also informed residents that government was providing escort to private security companies when transporting cash to deter would be robbers. 

Deputy police commissioner, Mr Solomon Mantswe said it was true that crime was rife along the common border with Zimbabwe. 

He said crimes committed included house breaking, burglary, robbery, defilement, rape, illegal exportation of fuel, illegal importation of cigarettes and other commodities as well as livestock rustling. 

He said 53 cases of robbery were reported in Matshelagabedi alone this year, while four cases of defilement were reported this year as compared to six last year this time. 

Regarding the employment of special constables, Mr Mantswe said government had provided a special dispensation allowing for their continued engagement until a new contract was signed. 

Further they were given priority over other applicants when posts became available. 

The Deputy Police Commissioner explained that at the moment over 4 500 Special Constable were in the employ of the BPS. 

However, they could not all be absorbed into permanent employment owing to unavailability of vacancies. 

North East District Council chairperson, Ms Florah Mpetsane complained about animals that crossed the border between the two countries saying they were responsible for outbreaks of Foot and Mouth Disease. 

She also said a plot for construction of the police station, which had been deferred from as far back as NDP 9, was readily available. BOPA