02 Oct 2022

The Anglican Church Diocese in Botswana has been applauded for partnering with Botswana Prisons Services in the rehabilitation of prisoners.

Speaking at the Anglican Church golden jubilee in Gaborone on Saturday, Commissioner of Botswana Prisons Services, Ms Diana Marathe said Anglican Church had pledged to annually adopt and reintegrate into the society 10 ex-offenders upon release from incarceration.

She said prison was, among other duties, mandated to provide safe custodial care of prisoners and take them through a rehabilitation programme that would assist them in rejoining the society.

Ms Marathe said the rehabilitation process would never be successful without input of the community and other relevant stakeholders such as faith -based organisations. 

She said before the end of the year about 100 prisoners would be completing their incarceration and rejoining the society.

As such, Ms Marathe appealed to the community to be in a position to accept, reunite and guide them accordingly to feel comfortable and be in apposition to start crime free lifestyles.

Ms Marathe said individual members of the Anglican congregation must emulate what the church was doing and volunteer to individually adopt former prisoners as they had served their punishment and therefore ready to join the society.

She said the Anglican Church had over the years contributed immensely to the rehabilitation process. 

As a law enforcement entity, Ms Marathe said Botswana Prisons Services was eager to partner with like-minded partners as it was the case with the Anglican Church in running the rehabilitation programme.

Additionally, she said faith- based organisations and other entities in the society must emulate Anglican Church by contributing towards building a tolerant, peaceful and crime-free society. 

Ms Marathe said offenders must be engaged in the rehabilitation process to identify their areas of need and draft suitable programmes. ENDS