22 Jan 2024

Philip Matante West residents in Francistown South constituency have applauded Botswana Police Service for fighting intrusive crime in their area.

Speaking during a kgotla meeting addressed by the MP, Mr Wynter Mmolotsi, on January 19, the residents expressed gratitude to the police’s hard work and dedication in combating crime in the area, citing a decrease in intrusive crimes such as burglary, robbery and street attacks.

They said they now felt safer and more secure in their homes and neighbourhoods and some residents even said they were able to sleep better at night, knowing that the police were actively working to keep them safe.

In her welcome remarks on behalf of Block Phase IV Court president, Ms Chatiwa Jeffrey, said the residents appreciated police’s efforts., She said residents of Block 2 enjoyed last year’s festivities as there was peace in their community, because the crime rate was low.

She said she wished such could go on forever, and expressed sincere gratitude to the police for working hand in hand with the community in efforts to curb crime.

Ward Development Chairperson, Ms Joyce Ernest, said despite efforts being done to curb crime, some crime was still present within the constituency, adding that criminals were now engaging in serious crimes such as break-ins.

“Government offices are prime targets, due to the valuables kept in them,” she added.

Ms Ernest said there were some abandoned buildings such as tuck-shops which had become hide-outs for criminals.

“The tower light within Block 2 do not function, and criminals take advantage of the darkness to do as they wish”, she added. She urged BPS to increase its visibility within the community, especially at Block 2.

Mr Raphael Pholo, a resident of Block 2, urged residents to protect their property and desist from placing their valuables in houses without security.

“Installation of burglar bars can minimize the ease of access into one’s home,” he said.

He said BPS do more community engagements, to enable a good relationship with the residents which would help create a safe space of reporting crime.

“There used to be clusters around, but that came to a halt since criminals targeted and threatened cluster volunteers,” he added.

For her part, Insp. Gaseediwe Letsholathebe of Kutlwano Police Station, acknowledged the praise in their fight against crime in Francistown on behalf of the police service, adding that the police were doing by all means to ensure that the crime rate in Francistown was neutralised.

Insp. Letsholathebe urged the residents to join forces with BPS in the fight against crime by making it a norm to report crime and any illegal activities within their communities. 

“Let us also groom and teach our children, especially the young that crime is bad “Lore le ojwa le sale metsi,” she added.

For his part, Mr Mmolotsi stated that Francistown City Council was working around the clock to illuminate the whole city. 

He explained the project was meant to ensure that every constituency in Francistown was fitted with solar street lights, and that the project has already commenced. “Having lights within our streets will scare away criminals,” he said.

Mr Mmolotsi told the residents that Botswana was running the economy at a deficit.

“Our economic growth rate stands at 5.8 per cent as per last year, but went down by 2% this year making it 3.8 per cent, resulting in the unemployment rate increasing,” he said.

He said all this was because diamonds had more than three months without sales.

“Botswana’s economy is mainly diamond exportation led, which slows down the country’s progress,” he said.

The other factor was that government recently spent a lot of money purchasing bulls to upgrade the farming sector, forgetting that majority of people in Francistown were not into farming. 

He said the only solution “is to re-open all mines around Francistown to create more jobs”, he stated.

He urged the residents to draft wills and protect their property. He said through this initiative he pledged to assist residents draft wills and to date he assisted close to 300.

He said Francistown South Constituency had established a burial scheme, and urged residents to join in large numbers.

 “People should know that having insurance policies is beneficial, as one avoids burdening their loved ones and the community once they died,” he stated. He urged residents to register for elections whist there was still time. ENDS