Botswana needs proper rehabilitation centres

Mmegi Editor | Monday May 23, 2022 04:38

Our sister publication The Monitor earlier this week carried a story on serious human rights abuses being meted on people who have gone for rehabilitation at a boot camp in Kgatleng. Allegations cite verbal and physical abuses, children being stripped of their dignity and shaved in front of others. While the abuse came to light after a suicide incident of a 23-year-old, Botswana Institute for Reintegration and Rehabilitation of Offenders’ (BIRRO) alleged abuse came to the fore.

It is clear that with the huge number of participants taken to the boot camp over the years despite talks of brutality Batswana are in desperate need of proper rehabilitation centres.

While discipline is key in rehabilitation, authoritarian methods cannot be the solution to the problem. We hence condemn what has been taking place at BIRRO. We call on relevant authorities including the police, health officials, non-government rehabilitation centres and all other interested stakeholders to asses the situation and come up with a lasting solution to the abuse and human rights violations.

Shall circumstances permit, it is vital that the whole programme at the camp is halted and working solutions provided. It is no secret that delinquency, drug usage and disregard for parents are causing problems in families. It is therefore, important that the whole incident is looked at holistically and support is offered to BIRRO to deliver in accordance with the law and rehabilitation standards.

It is high time government prioritises rehabilitation and support such initiatives or even get involved on full time basis. As much as parents are not happy with their children’s conduct, surely they do not want them dead or even abused.

In his own words, Mothei Sejakgomo who is the chairperson of BIRRO lamented that government support for their course to help young people avoid prison was insufficient. We further call on parents to try by all means to raise desirable members of the society from the young age. Parents should also get in touch with teachers regularly to understand needs of their children and be able to seek help timely. Even when it gets to taking our children to such facilities, it is important to know what their rehabilitation will entail. This would enable a parent to make a decision knowing what to expect.

As for young people, stay away from crime, drugs and all those negatives that can lead you to being imprisoned. Seek help as early as possible to avoid being found in the wrong.