BDF visitation approval a welcome development

The Monitor Editor | Tuesday May 26, 2026 10:28

BDF camps are military camps, and there is a need for stricter rules and regulations to safeguard their operations as well as ensure the safety of civilians. Of course, military personnel are human, and they have relatives as well as girlfriends and boyfriends, but the fact remains that the BDF is responsible for ensuring national security and stability and, as such, will be one of the first targets in the event of possible attacks. The decision to start implementing prior application and approval was announced at the 21st BDF Strategic Conference. The App will first be piloted at Sir Seretse Khama Barracks (SSKB).

Over the years, there have been complaints that BDF barracks are overpopulated, with many soldiers staying with their siblings/relatives, friends, and sometimes girlfriends or boyfriends. Whilst it may sometimes be necessary for BDF personnel to house relatives, girlfriends or boyfriends, or other people they may have relationships with, it should be understood that military bases have different regulations due to the sensitivity of their responsibilities. All people inside the military barracks need to register at any given time, so it will be easy to account for each and every individual should there be an emergency.

Many people seem to have problems with civilians being restricted from entering military barracks, but if they looked into the issues with a sober mind, they would understand why such rules and regulations should be followed to a T. We have, over the years, heard about women fighting over men at some of the military barracks or military personnel fighting over men, something which should not happen, considering the kind of weapons that military personnel handle daily. There is also the issue of the area itself and the dignity and respect it deserves. Meanwhile, President Advocate Duma Boko, when speaking at the same event, pleaded with soldiers to refrain from using military training on their partners. He advised soldiers to learn to accept that relationships sometimes end. In recent times, a number of BDP personnel were reported to have either harmed or killed their partner before taking their own lives. In some cases, however, the soldiers only murdered their partners but did not end up taking their own lives. Whilst addressing GBV issues within the BDF community is very important, registering visitors at the BDF barracks is equally important.