22 Oct 2025

The Botswana Prison Service’s model of refurbishing its old buildings using inmate labour has proven to be an immensely cost-saving measure and a shining example of active rehabilitation and self-sufficiency.

Speaking at the handover of renovated houses to the Botswana Prisons Service (BPS) on Tuesday, Minister of Justice and Correctional Services, Mr Nelson Ramaotwana said the innovative approach transformed the penal system from one of containment to constructive skill-building and national development.

“In a time when our country faces financial constraints, this project serves as a shining model of cost-effective infrastructure development,” Mr Ramaotwana said.

He indicated that the prisons service significantly reduced expenditure by leveraging internal resources, given that had the project been outsourced to a private contractor, the costs would have been substantially higher, estimated at P1.4 million.

“By utilising inmate labour, the actual expenditure for the refurbishment was only P590 557,” he said.

Mr Ramaotwana emphasised that by using prison labour, supervised by skilled officers, the service transferred invaluable skills to the inmates.

“This is a win-win strategy for national development,” he added.

He said the prisons service planned to replicate the model using other trades. He said the main aim was to achieve self-sufficiency in food production for all prisons through rehabilitative farming.  He thus commended the prisons service for embracing the progressive model, stating that using prison labour for meaningful, nation-building projects empowered inmates through mindset change, skills development and personal growth and ultimately prepared them to return to society as productive citizens.

He also commended the Madirelo Training and Testing Centre (MTTC) and the Construction Industry Trust Fund (CITF) for their vital partnership, which included assessing and certifying the inmates’ competencies.

For his part, the prisons service commissioner, Mr Anthony Mokento, confirmed that the renovation was executed by inmates who had been equipped with trades in painting, bricklaying, plumbing, electrical installation, tile fitting and carpentry.

He said about 65 inmates were engaged in the project and 39 were tested for competency while 38 were successful and received certification.

He added that after the handover, the team was set to begin renovating another three houses, part of a larger project involving the redesign of 12 semi-detached houses from six individual units.

On one hand, prisons service deputy commissioner, Ms Keneilwe Mokwenaotsile, said the refurbished houses would not only provide accommodation to employees but also help to stimulate and boost their performance.

Ms Mokwenaotsile added that the renovation would also improve the prison camp’s aesthetics and help inmates attain skills.

Meanwhile, the renovation initiative was launched on May 29, 2024 and is expected to be completed in March next year. BOPA