27 Mar 2023

The increasing number of stock theft incidents across the country is a threat to livestock farming, which has proven to be a significant income generating industry for socio-economic development.

 As such, the Ministry of Defense and Security would continue to deploy resources in keeping with the recommendations in the Presidential Commission of Inquiry report on the alleged livestock rustling in some villages in the Bobirwa constituency.

 That was said by defense and security minister, Mr Kagiso Mmusi in his presentation of the ministry’s proposed budget for the 2023/2024 financial year recently.

“The there is need to extend resources to other equally deserving areas such as the North East, Borolong and Kgalagadi districts,” he said.

 The minister applauded law enforcement agencies for the headway in combating cash-in-transit heists around the country.

“While incidents of cash-in-transit heists and explosive attacks on Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs) were on the rise over the past years, with perpetrators getting away with large sums of money, I am happy to report that there are positive results in the fight against this crime,” he said.

 He said key to the success were robust intelligence led counter measures by the Botswana Police Service (BPS) and strategic partnership with other security agencies.

“Cooperation with security industry stakeholders and consultation with the banking business players was also critical in bringing this crime under control,” he added.

   On Gender Based Violence (GBV), Mr Mmusi regretted that incidents of GBV and abuse of children had not subsided, hence the need to deploy pertinent interventions throughout the country cannot be ignored.

 Again, he said implementation of the sex offender register and provision of facilities for reporting such incidents would continue to be key priorities in ensuring human security.

Mr Mmusi further indicated that after the introduction of a child-friendly centre in Gaborone in 2021, five more centres were established in Francistown, Shakawe, Letlhakane, Lobatse and Ghanzi. Economic diplomacy critical

  He added that the child-friendly facility planned for Palapye centre was complete and ready for handover while the Maun centre was scheduled to be opened during the 2023/2024 financial year,” he said.

 Mr Mmusi told Parliament that currently, manpower was inadequate to address the rapidly increasing and complex crimes as well as other emerging security challenges, among them cybercrime, which he said called for a significant increase in police numbers to mitigate them.

 He however commended government for approving manpower positions for the BPS to employ 1 000 officers in the current financial year. He said an additional 1 000 police officers would be recruited in the next financial year. ENDS