23 Nov 2022

In the quest to intensify the fight against crime, government will build 27 mini police stations around the country in the next two years, Minister of Defence and Security, Mr Kagiso Mmusi has disclosed.

   He told a media briefing in Gaborone yesterday that processes were underway to identify sites and areas where the stations would be constructed.

The goal was to have the buildings ready by 2024, the minister said.

Mr Mmusi explained that the project was part of the grand plan to intensify crime fighting efforts and improve police visibility.

Towards that end, 1 000 police officers had been recruited with the first batch already having graduated, he said adding that the second cohort would graduate latest by January. 

“This will increase police presence and will help us to reduce crime,” the minister stated.

 He expressed the hope that cabinet would approve another recruitment of 1 000 police officers next year.

Regarding cash-in-transit heists and ATM bombings, Minister Mmusi said from 2021,  Botswana registered 15 and 21 incidents respectively and that millions of Pula were stolen.

He said escalation of such attacks led to the collaboration of law enforcement agencies with private security companies and banking stakeholders which resulted in the reduction of incidents.

Mr Mmusi said police would continue to support private security companies with escorts during cash-in-transit operations adding that discussions on permanent arrangement were ongoing.

On the relationship between Botswana Police Service and the Directorate on Intelligence and Security Services, Mr Mmusi said the organs were working together cordially and were supporting each other on operations.

He also said the SADC Mission in Mozambique (SAMIM) to combat terrorism and acts of violence extremism had made progress and that there were currently 311 Botswana Defence Force soldiers under the mission.

 Mr Mmusi further said the mission was now of a peace keeping nature and that the country would contribute other supporting personnel such as police officers. ENDS