Criminals beware, police are closing in

Mmegi Editor | Monday May 18, 2026 06:00

Smash-and-grab incidents became common at traffic lights, Automatic Teller Machine (ATM) bombings made headlines too often, cash-in-transit robberies terrified security personnel, while home invasions left families traumatised in the very places they were supposed to feel safest. The situation had reached alarming levels and threatened not only the peace of ordinary citizens, but also the country’s reputation as one of the safest and most stable nations in the region. It is against this background that the former Minister of Defence and Security, Kagiso Mmusi, made a strong call on the police to intensify efforts and do whatever it takes within the confines of the law to root out violent crime.

Since then, there has been a noticeable improvement. The once rampant incidents of organised criminal activity in Greater Gaborone appear to have declined significantly. Citizens are beginning to regain confidence in the country’s law enforcement agencies, and for that, the police deserve recognition.

This week’s incident in Mogoditshane once again demonstrated that law enforcement officers are taking the fight directly to criminals. Police reportedly responded swiftly after receiving information that suspects had been spotted on the rooftop of a supermarket at a local mall in the early hours of Tuesday morning. In the confrontation that followed, one suspect was fatally shot after allegedly charging towards officers.

While the loss of life is always regrettable, incidents of this nature send a strong warning to criminals that the police are prepared to act decisively when public safety is under threat. Criminals have, for years, terrorised innocent citizens without mercy. They attack people at their gates, invade homes at night, assault families in their sleep and steal valuables using violence and intimidation.

The public has repeatedly pleaded with the police to restore order and safety. Many citizens have argued that criminals themselves show little regard for human life and that law enforcement must respond firmly to protect communities. Indeed, a society cannot flourish where criminals operate freely while law-abiding citizens live behind burglar bars and in fear. These criminal acts are not only dangerous to individuals but harmful to the nation’s economic ambitions. Supermarket break-ins, ATM bombings and armed robberies create an image of instability that can scare away investors and tourists alike. Botswana has long marketed itself as a peaceful and secure investment destination, and maintaining that reputation requires strong and visible policing. President Duma Boko has been travelling extensively to attract investment into the country. However, attracting investors goes hand in hand with guaranteeing security. No investor will confidently put money into a country where criminal syndicates appear to be in control of the streets.

The police therefore have a critical responsibility, not only to protect citizens, but also to safeguard Botswana’s economic future. Criminals must understand that the law will catch up with them sooner or later. Communities, businesses and families deserve to live peacefully without fear of becoming victims.

The message must remain loud and clear, Botswana will not surrender to criminals. The police must continue tightening the noose, and criminals must know that their days of terrorising innocent people are numbered.

Today's thought

'Why is it that, as a culture, we are more comfortable seeing two men holding guns than holding hands?' – Ernest Gaine