04 Jul 2023

Government is committed to making community policing and its associated initiatives more effective and impactful. The Minister of Defence and Security, Mr Kagiso Mmusi, said this at the 11th annual National Community Policing cluster awards ceremony in Palapye last Thursday. 

Mr Mmusi said the partnership between communities and the police remained key to achieving safer communities and economic prosperity as the country positioned itself for high-income status by 2036.

 He thanked Batswana for their dedication and contribution to the transformation, adding major public security challenges facing the country were drug abuse, stock theft, robberies, missing persons, home invasions, Gender Based Violence (GBV) related crimes such as rape, defilement, threat to kill and murder. 

Mr Mmusi said as such, the community policing philosophy, which held that people that live, work and play in a given neighbourhood, better understand their area’s problems, unique needs and capacities, was not only “a wise and reasonable” thing to implement, but was also best suited to address these and future challenges, he said. 

Government, he said, remained unwaveringly committed to availing all the necessary resources towards fighting crime. He said while resources would never be adequate, government had employed more police officers to address manpower shortage within the police service. 

“The approval of 28 police stations at strategic locations, will also go a long way in enhancing both the effectiveness and accessibility of policing services,” he said. 

Furthermore, he said, the establishment of the border force and the strengthening of Kgomokhumo operations would assist in tackling stock theft and cross border crime. 

He added that all the efforts were aimed at making communities safer and more secure.

 Mr Mmusi said in an effort to address GBV and child abuse, the police service established a gender and child protection branch in 2021 and that child-friendly centres were being rolled out with facilities already opened in Gaborone, Francistown, Shakawe, Letlhakane, Lobatse and Ghanzi, while similar facilities were scheduled to open in Palapye and Maun. 

He added that the implementation of the sex offenders register and provision of facilities for reporting related incidents was another milestone that would enhance public safety and security. 

With regard to this year’s theme: Towards safer and secure communities by 2036, he said it was consistent with Vision 2036’s fourth pillar of governance, peace and security, which state: “by 2036 Botswana will be a land of peace, freedom and progressive governance. Communities will partner with the security services in fighting crime.” He called upon every citizen and resident of Botswana to contribute voluntarily and selflessly towards making Botswana safe and secure. 

Mr Mmusi said to enhance the impact and effectiveness of community policing, the participation of key stakeholders such as the private sector, government departments, parastatals, farming community, youth and communities at large, as well as magosi had been enrolled.

 For his part, acting police commissioner, Mr Phemelo Ramakorwane, said for this season, 682 policing clusters were reviewed as compared to 604 in 2021.

 That represented a 12 per cent growth in participation, he said, adding it was their desire to improve the capacity and effectiveness of the clusters. 

Mr Ramakorwane said he was confident that the awards, which came in the form of trophies, certificates and money would continue to motivate them to fight crime. 

The police service, he said, would work hard to win the trust of more communities for effective policing. 

The minister’s award of excellence in community policing went to No 13 District, which comprises Mogoditshane, Gaborone West, Naledi, Ramotswa, and Sir Seretse Khama International Airport police stations. 

The best performing division in crime reduction award went to the Northern Division while Mogoditshane Police Station scooped position one in the best station award. ENDS