We can win the battle against drugs—Mmusi
Pini Bothoko | Tuesday May 9, 2023 06:00
However, in partnership with the newly established Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), the Defence and Security ministry is confident that there is new hope that the country can win the battle against drug use.
Minister Kagiso Mmusi said this when officiating at the DEA’s first stakeholder consultative meeting that was held at the Tlotlo Conference Centre recently that if the ministry pools resources together, there is no doubt the country could win the battle against the illicit trafficking of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.
“My ministry resolved to call this consultative meeting in a bid to harness the various expertise and align our efforts to achieve a common goal. Trafficking in narcotic drugs poses a danger to public security, peace and stability. Drugs ruin the future of children and youth who are our window of hope and are expected to perpetuate our legacy after our departure,” Mmusi said.
He stated that illicit drugs rob governments of revenues as the able-bodied are confined to drug dependency at the expense of productivity and in the process increase health bills in all their forms and shape. “If not harnessed and eradicated, illicit traffic in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances may frustrate our goal of achieving Pillar 4 of Vision 2036, which addresses Governance, Peace and Security.
Through this pillar, the nation envisions a significant reduction in crime and corruption, which will then facilitate civil society organisations and the community to actively participate in the national development process,” he said.
This, according to Mmusi, undoubtedly aligns well with the UN Sustainable Development Goal 16.4, which targets to end organised crime and nations, including Botswana, should have actions targeting organised crime if this goal is to be achieved.
He stated that by acknowledging this disturbing trend of an increase in drug trafficking, Botswana is party to the African Union Plan of Action on Drug Control and Crime Prevention (2019-2023), SADC Protocol on Combating Illicit Drugs and the United Nations three treaties that together form the international law framework of the global drug control regime. Mmusi added that it is in line with these instruments that the Parliament of Botswana enacted the Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act in 2018 through which the DEA was established.
He explained that the functions of the DEA amongst others, include public education, setting procedures and measures to prohibit activities relating to drugs, law enforcement which entails investigations and prosecuting for offences under this Act, subject to the directives of the Director of Public Prosecutions. “At this critical point in the history of our nation when drug and substance abuse is a threat to our future, it is important that we join efforts as various sectors to prevent infiltration of drugs into our society,” Mmusi said.
For her part when delivering welcome remarks, the ministry’s Permanent Secretary Botlhale Makgekgenene said the proliferation of drugs is a concern to the country primarily because illicit trafficking in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances does not respect the geographical, political, social, economic, national, family, or even academic borders.
Makgekgenene added that it is not even intimidated by age, gender, colour or creed hence it is important that the ministry assembles resources and intellect to effectively deal with this crime and social ill. “The police records indicate that between 2018 and 2022, close to 10,000 suspects were arrested, specifically, 9,233 suspects were arrested out of which 7,702 were youth.
The most prevalent illegal drugs in Botswana are cannabis and methcathinone, with the police recording a total of 7,004 cases and 385 cases respectively, over the past five years,” she said.