08 Apr 2026

Government is committed to provide the Botswana Police Service (BPS) with new supervisory positions to alleviate stagnation, thereby boosting morale and enhancing productivity among police officers. This was said by Minister for State President, Defence and Security, Mr Moeti Mohwasa when responding to a question in Parliament from Tswapong South MP, Dr Kesitegile Gobotswang, recently. 

“In addition, government is open to consider improved salary structure that would allow fair progression for the BPS,” Minister Mohwasa said. 

He indicated that since making the commitment to address the slow promotion of police officers in 2024, a total of 220 officers former local police officers, each with length of service of 10 years or more of service, had been promoted to various ranks. 

The ranks, he said, included one senior assistant commissioner, four assistant commissioners, seven senior superintendents, seven superintendents, 26 assistant superintendents, 32 inspectors, 64 sub-inspectors and 79 sergeants. Also, he said 1 278 former local police officers had been deployed across various policing establishments. 

However, he said due to prevailing economic challenges, which had limited government’s ability to create new supervisory positions within the BPS, over the past five years progression within the organisation had been significantly slow. 

“Consequently, the Commissioner of Police is constrained, as promotions are only possible when positions become vacant due to attrition, these being resignation, death and retirement,” he added. 

He also noted that 940 officers had remained in the same positions for more than 10 years without receiving promotions, including 258 former local police officers and 682 officers already within the BPS ranks, explaining that promotions within the BPS were based on meritocracy. 

“Factors considered include performance, commitment, discipline and the availability of posts. There is no consideration given to gender prejudice,” he explained. 

Dr Gobotswang asked the minister to apprise Parliament of the slow promotion rate of police officers, following the minister’s prior commitment to address the issue. 

Tswapong South legislator also sought the total number of former local police officers with 10 or more years of service who had been promoted since that commitment. 

Furthermore, he asked about the number of officers who had remained in the same rank for over a decade and whether gender favouritism existed within the process. 

He also wanted to know what plans were in place to address delayed progression within the BPS. ENDS