02 Nov 2023

Partnership of the police and communities is vital in the fight against crime and road accidents.

Speaking at the launch of 60 days of action on crime and road safety in Kanye on November 1, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mr Solomon Mantswe urged all stakeholders to join hands with the police and ensure that the remaining 60 days of the year were spent in a safe and secure environment.

He said the campaign was meant to remind Botswana of crime and road safety challenges leading to the festive season.

He said the theme of the campaign: Embracing Mindset Change, Key to a Safer and Secure Festive Season #A re chencheng, could be employed to model efforts and minds towards spending a safe and peaceful festive season and beyond.

Mr Mantswe said while crime remained fairly manageable over the years, statistics for 2022 depicted a 21.6 per cent increase in crimes such as burglary and theft, store break-in and theft, house break-in and theft and robbery as compared to 2021.

He said other prioritised crimes such as gender based violence (GBV) related crimes, stock theft as well as the theft of motor vehicles registered a 18.8 per cent cumulative increase.

Drug use and human trafficking, he said, were also challenges facing the nation.

He said addressing them  needed strengthened response strategies such as public education, community policing, research and collaboration.

Regarding road safety, he said the country recorded decrease in general road accidents, fatal crashes and fatalities in 2022 as compared to 2021, adding that road traffic violations increased in 2022 as compared to 2021.

“I wish to note with concern the level of involvement of pedestrians in road traffic accidents,” he said.

Motor Vehicle Accident Fund chief executive officer, Mr Michael Tlhagwane said they received more than 2 000 claim requests annually, which translated to about P200 million.

He noted that roads accidents affected citizens’ lives  and different sectors of the economy.

He said the World Health Organisation had established that road accidents cost developing countries three per cent of their economy and that a reduction in such accidents could assist countries to attain 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda goals.

Mr Tlhagwane also said road accidents affected mostly the 21-49 age group and that most of them had skills and expertise needed to take the country forward.

He urged road users to change their mindset and work together to fight road accidents.

For his part, deputy chief of Bangwaketse, Kgosi Kebapetse Telekelo complained about drug use in the village, saying they were sold by adults to children.

“We expect a lot from our children and it is breaking our hearts to see them suffering from mental illnesses due to such drugs,” he said.

Mr Seth Morule, the chairperson of No.14 District Crime Prevention Executive Committee said stock theft was one of the increasing crimes in the district.

He said most farmers did not take care of their livestock and that they relied on the KgomoKhumo campaign.

Mr Morule said some farmers employed strangers without work permits to look after their livestock. He advised farmers to take their herdmen to police stations to check criminal records  before entrusting their livestock to them. ENDS