16 Mar 2014

Minister for Presidential Affairs and Public Administration, Mr Mokgweetsi Masisi says a rise in crime can render Botswana unsafe for investment.

Speaking at the 4th National Cluster Policing awards ceremony Friday, March 14, Minister Masisi said it was therefore the responsibility of every Motswana to shun crime at all times.

Awards were in categories of Best Practice, Community Commitment, Best Station as well as the Minister’s Award for Excellence to one police district.

Mr Masisi said crime was a problem that affected all members of the public, hence the need for everybody to effectively work together to fight it.

He also highlighted that without effective partnerships between the police and its partners or stakeholders, crime would be a difficult problem to handle.

He indicated that there were a number of compelling reasons why the police and politicians have looked to community policing as a way forward mostly grounded in the history of policing.

Further, the minister noted that there was a pressing need for innovative practices within policing to help curb what some would consider a crisis of violence within the communities.

Minister Masisi said the changing nature and elevated level of crime throughout the country in the past years caused the police to seek more effective methods to curb disorder and control crime.

“We also recognise that curbing disorder, fighting crime and increasing feelings of personal safety require commitment from both the public and the police,” he added.

Kgosi Lotlamoreng II of Barolong appealed to Batswana to join hands with the Botswana Police Service (BPS) to fight crime.

Meanwhile, the Number 5 District, which covers Maun and surrounding police stations retained the Minister’s Award of Excellence that it won last year. The district was awarded a trophy, certificate and a P10 000 cheque.

Maun Police Station, which has six clusters, was named the best station and with a pass mark of 100 per cent it was awarded a trophy, certificate and a P5 000 cheque.

After Maun Police Station were Central Police Station and Gerald Estate in Francistown in second and third positions, and the two were also awarded certificates, trophies and cheques amounting to P4 000 and P3 000 respectively.

Sehithwa, Toteng, Botlhatlogo and Kgosing, Kopano, Boseja, Makgathanela Thapong, Kgetsiyatsie, Bojammogo and Itekeng clusters all from Maun and surrounding villages were outstanding in the Community Commitment category.

The awards, which brought together former police commissioners; Messrs Norman Moleboge and Simon Hirschfield, branch commanders, dikgosi as well as senior officers, are the BPS’ recognition and appreciation of efforts and sacrifice made in the fight against crime. ENDS