06 Oct 2022

The use of  inmate labour in a Botswana Prison Service staff refurbishment project symbolises mindset change, says Minister of Defence and Security Mr Kagiso Mmusi.

 “The project is a good example of mindset change and a testimony of government’s commitment to infrastructural development,” he said in Gaborone Wednesday when handing over six refurbished staff houses at the Gaborone Prisons complex. 

 Minister Mmusi commended the inmates involved in the  project.

“Refurbishment of the houses is a welcome development which assists with imparting skills transfer to prisoners. This will facilitate their successful reintegration hence reducing chances of re-offending,” he said.

Mr Mmusi said the project contributed to the offenders’ rehabilitation initiative through skills acquisition in carpentry, painting and general building maintenance.

He encouraged the inmates to put the skills into practice upon their release.

   The minister said sustainable staff housing improved employee morale and by extension productivity and service delivery.

 Minister Mmusi acknowledged the existence of constraints that negatively affected Botswana Prison Service operations, among them limited resources.

He however said provision of sustainable accommodation for members of the disciplined forces was one of the ministry’s key priorities.

Another speaker, Botswana Prison Service commissioner, Ms Dinah Marathe said the organisation  had to contend with shortage of accommodation with every intake.

Refurbishment of staff houses was therefore a relief, she said adding that more would be renovated under the same arrangement.

The prisons chief said so far 29 houses had been refurbished using prison labour since the initiative’s inception in 2011.

“The use of prison labour is beneficial to inmates as it imparts skills to the inmates preparing them for a life outside prison,” she said.

Ms Maratha expressed the hope that the houses would result in improved productivity and ultimately service delivery.

“The project is one of our key objectives of improving the welfare of prison officers,” she said. 

On the latest houses, Ms Maratha  explained that the work, which started in July last year and was expected to take five months, was only completed last month.

She attributed the delay to shortage of skilled labour and failure by suppliers to deliver material on time. Ends