Masisi calls for police training on election duty
Pini Bothoko | Monday February 26, 2024 06:00
He was speaking as the work of the police gets under spotlight in the build up to this year’s general election day and beyond.
Masisi stated that 2024 marks another important milestone in the growth of the country’s democracy, as another general election will be held. “This is when all eligible Batswana are accorded an opportunity to exercise their democratic right of electing the political leadership of their choice, for the next five years,” he told the ongoing 50th BPS’ senior officers annual conference held at the Special Support Group (SSG) Hall. .
“This fundamental right should be protected at all times hence the need to mobilise resources and educate officers about the elections mandate and law enforcement expectations as early as now. Your responsibility is rule-governed and legally sanctioned hence nothing has changed in 2024.”
The conference is being held under the theme: "Modern policing: New realities towards safe and secure communities." Masisi stated that a safe, secure and peaceful environment is required for the smooth conduct of elections, adding that the role of the police is therefore, central to ensuring a peaceful environment. He added that this starts during campaigns leading to the election day, conduct during the elections and installation of government post elections therefore, the need to ensure compliance with the law by all without fear or favour.
“As usual, Batswana and the international community look forward in anticipation towards a democratic, fair and credible election process. “The credibility of this national exercise depends to a larger extent, on the effective facilitation and enforcement of the elections and legislation, both during political campaigns and the election day itself,” he said.
The President further urged senior police officers to more than ever before prepare and ensure that they contribute and deliver diligently and effectively on their expected mandate. “Mobilise resources and educate officers about elections. No one should be allowed to compromise the election process. Government will continue to provide the necessary resources for effective law enforcement. These include amongst others, adequate investment in police manpower, infrastructural developments, transport and information technology in order to enhance police efficiency and effectiveness in service delivery.” Masisi indicated that as the country is committed to upholding and observing the rule of law, the interaction of police officers with customers should always be underpinned by botho, professionalism, discipline, resilience and commitment to serve.
“Police officers should not come across to members of the public as the embodiments of fearsome and threatening individuals who are prone to abusing the power and authority of the State that has entrusted them with the responsibility to prevent crime and uphold public security and safety,” he said. Meanwhile, Masisi assured senior police officers that manpower will continue to be increased to enhance police visibility, as demonstrated by the approval of 1,000 trainees during the 2022-23 financial year and another 1,000 for the current financial year. He stated that the deployment of this additional resource should translate into reduced crime and enhanced safety of the people. The President further emphasised government’s resolve to construct additional police facilities in line with its commitment of bringing public services closer to Batswana.
He said that will include police stations, police offices, institutional houses and specialised facilities such as child friendly centres which should enable the police to effectively discharge their mandate. Meanwhile, Masisi was confident that the long-week engagement of senior police officers will provide a strategic platform for them to formulate solutions to emerging public security and safety concerns. He further advised the conference to seriously interrogate, assess and review current and emerging crime threats with a view to offering effective solutions to sustaining peace, security safety and stability at the personal, inter-personal, communal levels, and the wider society. Masisi further urged senior police officers to be focussed in their deliberations, be creative in formulating appropriate strategies by considering new developments of human civilisation, such as the advent of the fourth Industrial Revolution, and notably artificial intelligence. As the theme states, Masisi said there is need to modernise the BPS and align policing solutions towards the effective tackling of today’s complex security challenges.
“In a societal context characterised by a critical mass of people that are sufficiently knowledgeable, and have the reasonable access to the infrastructure of information and communication technologies as well as data processing gadgets, the profession and practices of policing are fraught with the challenges of some individuals re-purposing the use of such technologies to serve devious goals of criminality,” he said. For his part, the Minister of Defence and Security, Kagiso Mmusi said the allocated resources which include additional manpower and equipment , will be committed to capacitating and empowering the service to effectively tackle contemporary security challenges confronting the country. He said gender-based violence (GBV) and related crime, stock theft, cross border and transnational organised crimes such as cybercrime and human trafficking are of great concern.
“We will continue to invest and leverage on technology as well as strengthen police collaboration in the fight against crime. “As promised we have recently launched the city police unit to enhance the organisation's response capability and visibility. We have also commenced digitising services in line with customer expectations,” Mmusi said.