14 Jun 2022

 The use of drones and the establishment of a unit dedicated to patrolling Botswana’s border fence are some of the plans on the cards to combat cross border crime, illegal immigrants and stock theft.

Minister of Defence and Security, Mr Kagiso Mmusi said this when responding to concerns raised by Karakubis residents about the dilapidated state of the border fence between Botswana and Namibia during a kgotla meeting last week.

Mr Mmusi conceded that the border fence across the country was in a bad state and that a unit dedicated to patrolling the fence would help the situation as police visibility along the border would improve.

He said a lot of funds would be needed to replace and repair the dilapidated border fence.

He said increased patrols and base camps along the border fence would also improve the situation.

The minister also noted that engagements with neighbouring countries were underway. 

He revealed that their Zimbabwean counterparts had hailed the move to intensify border patrols and establish base camps along the borderline.

 He added that they were yet to engage the Namibian authorities regarding similar arrangements.

Karakubis headman of arbitration, Mr Kamogelo Baateleng and the Village Development Committee chairperson, Ms Masego Mbish had told the minister that due to the permeable state of the border fence in the area, livestock roamed freely to and from Namibia.

They pleaded with the minister to improve the situation before their livestock vanished in front of their eyes. 

The pair, together with community members, complained about stock theft in their area and called for increased police visibility.

Mr Baateleng also urged the minister to arm police officers who would be patrolling the border fence, saying stock theft criminals carried weapons of war.

In response, Mr Mmusi said he partially blamed community members for providing a market for stolen livestock by buying meat of stolen animals. 

He urged them to buy meat from established butcheries.

The minister also said he would ensure that police officers were protected from criminals. 

Minister Mmusi also noted that police recruits had been increased to 1 000 per year and that the first batch of 500 would be graduating next month.

Regarding concerns that some police officers were conniving with criminals, he said interventions to guard against such behaviour would be strengthened and that those implicated would be dealt with accordingly.

The minister also praised a group of farmers in Karakubis who had established a voluntary committee to combat stock theft in their area. 

He said war against stock theft and crime in general needed efforts and collaboration of all stakeholders. ENDS