12 Mar 2014

Government is concerned about increasing cases of corruption, especially among junior officers in the Botswana Police Service and has put in places mechanisms to root out the rot.

Sub-Inspector Kennedy Mooketsi of the BPS internal affairs unit said this during a southern division workshop for police officers in Kanye recently. Mr Mooketsi stated that BPS had realised that youthful police officers, especially those in the traffic division were involved in corrupt practices.

Such officers often diverted funds into their own pockets and terrorised competitors against whom they had set up private businesses, especially in the taxi industry.

‘’Bangwe ba mapodise ba amogela tsotso, pipa molomo, bontsi bo dirile dikgwebo tsa di taxi tse di seng ka fa molaong mme ba dirile leano la go tshwara ba ba ka fa molaong ba kgoreletsa dikgwebo tsa bone go re ba tswelele’’, meaning some of the officers receive bribes.

Many had set up illegal taxi businesses and devised a strategy to arrest those operating legally to stem competition. Mr Mooketsi said police officers should declare their businesses to the commissioner of police, adding corruption did not only nasty effects on the public service but also negatively affected the private sector.

He said it was time necessary mechanisms to prevent, detect, and punish corrupt officers with a view to eradicating corruption and related offences in police services were put in place.

He said corruption was a global problem that needed the intervention of all stakeholders, saying because of globalisation and new technologies the world had become a big village such that perpetrators of crime found it easy to transfer proceeds of corruption across borders with ease.

Mr Mooketsi said some incidents of corruption discovered within the police service included illegal electronic transfer of funds, unlawful employment of special constables ,conflicts of interests, and suspicious relationships with business community.

He said following investigations and due process some of the involved police officers were dismissed. He said the police service was also worried about disappearing exhibits and dockets and ghost employees who remain on the police payroll.

He said officer also misused government vehicles faxes and used government property such as photocopiers for relatives, friends and for illegal businesses.

Mr Mooketsi urged the officers to desist from corrupt practices and to ensure to rotten officers were eliminated from the system. The objectives of the workshop were to equip junior officers with necessary skills to manage their personal finances, to empower them with inter-personal and leadership skills, to promote healthy living, self-value, morality and dignity. Ends