30 Nov 2022

Botswana Police Service (BPS) has focused patrols on critical infrastructure installations to address the increasing incidents of theft and vandalism of copper cable and telecommunications infrastructure.

Responding to a parliamentary question on behalf of the Minister of Defence and Security, Mr Kagiso Mmusi, the Minister of Justice, Mr Machana Shamukuni, said from January to September, there had been an increase of cases recorded.

The cases stand at 494 compared to 192 cases recorded last year during the same period.

He said the situation could not be classified as a national security threat especially that crime was being monitored with efforts made to bring the situation under control.

Mr Shamukuni further said resource constraints did not warrant establishment of a unit dedicated to policing critical infrastructure. 

“However, Botswana police has partnered with concerned entities and formed business crime prevention cluster known as Critical Installation Cluster to jointly address the problem,” he said.

The concerned entities are Botswana Telecommunications Corporation Limited, Botswana Power Corporation, Botswana Railways, Mascom Wireless and Orange Botswana.

Mr Shamukuni pointed out that the interaction had resulted in some entities arming their installations with alarms and tracking devices.

Member of Parliament for Gaborone Central, MP Tumisang Healy had asked the minister to explain what was being done to address the escalating theft and vandalism targeting copper cable and telecommunications infrastructure that was critical for bringing services to the nation.

He had also wanted to know whether the escalating incidents had not reached levels to be classified as national security threat and considerations of establishing a special unit that could primarily focus on the security risks posed to the infrastructures. Ends