Security organs counter power cuts #PowerCrisis

Victor Muyakwabo | Wednesday March 12, 2014 17:03

 

They are now relying on back up generators for most of their operations like satellite communication and monitoring, radio communication and radar monitoring. 

Botswana Prisons spokesperson, Senior Superintendent Wamorena Ramolefe told Mmegi that they are affected on the administrative part like any other government department but their operations are not seriously impacted.

“In our prisons we have back up generators that kick off once the power goes and in the past we have moved to have all our prisons ready to operate without power,” said Ramolefe.

On the other hand, Botswana Police Service Spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Christopher Mbulawa told Mmegi that almost all of their police stations have back up generators that pick up immediately when the power goes off.

“There is no direct coordination between load shedding and crime, because crime is always there with or without power,” said Mbulawa.

He also said that they do not have any statistics that indicate that due to the power interruption crime has gone up.  However, he said they would continue to advise the public to be vigilant when using the road at traffic intersections whenever the power is off. The Deputy Director General of the Directorate of Intelligence and Security, Tefo Kgotlhane said they have advised all stakeholders to make sure there are back up generators to avoid total blackout at strategic points.

“The power cuts have also affected us as an organisation but we cannot say there is any threat to national security because the current intelligence assessments shows that Botswana is not under any external threat,” said Kgotlhane, adding that power cuts are not desirable to the nation.

He said all strategic points in Botswana have back up generators.  He however, admitted that he could not rule out the possibility of security challenges because one could attempt to use the opportunity of darkness to commit crime.