16 May 2022

They do a good job rehabilitating prisoners and keeping dangerous ones locked up. So, President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi on Saturday presented medals to some of the 429 Botswana Prisons Service officers. 

The awards ceremony that was held at Prisons Service College in Mahalapye as part of their 64th anniversary celebrations on Saturday, aimed to recognise and appreciate the officers' selfless work and commitment, for the years 2020, 2021 and 2022. 

The 429 officers received medals under four award categories of meritorious service, distinguished service order, jubilee service as well as long service and good conduct. 

The meritorious service award is an honour awarded to members of the prisons service for serving who have served meritoriously and contributed outstandingly to the general development of the prisons service in the country. 

President Masisi presented the award deputy commissioner Ms Dikakanyo Mmolawa, retired assistant commissioner, Ms Motlalepula Vakalisa, senior assistant commissioner Mr Antony Mokento and assistant commissioners Ms Dorcas Kabomo, Montle Ponatshego and Mr Wamorena Ramolefe.

The distinguished service order is an honour awarded to serving members for meritorious service with an exemplary record for at least 30 years of continuous service. 

The jubilee service medal is an honour awarded to members for serving at least 25 years continuously, with a good service record. 

The medal for long service and good conduct is awarded to members for long service and good conduct with at least 18 years of continuous service.

Minister of Defense and Security, Mr Kagiso Mmusi, also presented other medal awards. 

In an interview, distinguished service order medal recipient, assistant principal officer Mr Motlogelwa Madutwane was happy to be receiving an award recepient for the third time in 32 years of service. 

Mr Madutwane was bestowed the jubilee service medal in 2016 as long as the long service and good conduct medal in 2010. 

Jubilee service medal recipient, Senior Superintendent Modiri Nakedi said looking back to his 28 years of service, the prisons service had impressively developed and come up with effective rehabilitation and correction initiatives for offenders.

That, he said were commendable developments towards achieving safe and humane custody of prisoners, adding “because our aim is to train, rehabilitate and re-integrate prisoners.”

 Long service and good conduct recipient, principal officer, Ms Rethabile Mosotho also expressed gratitude for being honoured for her dedication and discipline at work. 

Other officers were awarded posthumously with family members receiving the awards on their behalf. BOPA