12 Nov 2013

The Botswana Police Women Network has built a house for the children of their late colleague, Sergeant Michael Mavuka.

Speaking at the handing over of the house in Senyawe on November 8, Assistant Commissioner Wilhelmina Petje said the project was their contribution towards the attainment of the Vision 2016 pillar of a compassionate, just and caring nation.

She said since the formation of the Women Network in 2007, the project, a three-bedroomed house, was the first of its magnitude. Furthermore, she pointed out that though the police were tasked primarily with combating crime, it was also their responsibility to devise and put into use strategies through which to impact positively on the lives of the communities they served.

Thus, she indicated that they would continue to embark on related projects as a way of bringing themselves closer the public; something she added would help them forge strong and beneficial relationships with the entire nation. Assistant Commissioner Petje further informed the gathering that they had started to identify colleagues, former and current, who might be in need of being assisted in whatever form.

Deputy Commissioner of Police-Operations, Mr Bruno Paledi lauded the Women’s Network for the great job they had done. Thus, he urged all public servants to emulate what the women police officers had done, noting that doing so would ease the burden on government of having to provide solely for the needs of the less-privileged.

The children’s paternal uncle, Mr Smarts Mavuka expressed gratitude at the spirit of benevolence shown by the women’s network. The area councillor, Mr William Tatose also applauded the women police officers for their spirit of volunteerism, noting that their passion and commitment to the project had been amazing.

He also pleaded with the Mavuka family to look after the house on behalf of the children, who had lost both parents, as well as to share the responsibility of raising them. Tati East MP, Mr Samson Guma thanked the police for working hard to contain the crime situation in the country.

He however, appealed to them and the entire civil service to be apolitical in order to be able to carry out their duties without any political interference. MP Guma also urged the public to be self-policing, saying having to work extra hard and deploy more resources by the police negatively impacted on the nation’s budget. ENDS