24 Jul 2025

 The fight against drug and substance abuse can be challenging as dealers may view it as a threat to their livelihood.

The director of Botswana Institute of Rehabilitation and Reintegration of Offenders (BIRRO), Mr Mothei Sejakgomo shared this perspective at the association’s media briefing in Gaborone yesterday. He emphasised the need for a strategic approach to addressing the widespread drug situation that was affecting families across the country.

“Those who sell drugs use the proceeds to support their families. Therefore, they may perceive any intervention as a threat to their way of life,” Mr Sejakgomo said, emphasising the need for intervention geared towards assisting dealers to lead clean lives.

He also said that despite the widespread and worsening drug abuse situation in the country, there was still hope that the situation would eventually improve. He takes solace from the realisation that most of those involved in trading and using illicit drugs were Batswana, making it potentially easier to address the issue compared to dealing with foreigners.

Additionally, he suggested that given the current illicit drug situation in Botswana, it was time for government to consider implementing drug tests for its employees to ensure that workers responsible for decisions-making did so with sober minds.

BIRRO boot camp beneficiary, Mr Aobakwe Shadrack, shared that after being convicted for drug possession, the institution played a vital role in reintegrating him into society. He mentioned that due to drug influence, he lost his job as a banker and faced difficulties in securing employment, owing to his past, as he failed the clearance test. Another boot camp beneficiary, Mr Keineetse Keineetse, stated that through his engagement with BIRRO, he learnt about the widespread prevalence of drug abuse in the country.

Ms Phatsimo Thobega, a third-year student at the University of Botswana, said that alcohol abuse had caused her to fail her studies and expressed gratitude to BIRRO for supporting her on her path to recovery. Mr Sejakgomo informed the media that so far over 100 had graduated from their BIRRO boot camp,which provides behavoural change and life skill coaching to youths by focusing on character building, life skills training and education on such issues as cyber crime and substance abuse. ENDS