Are we free and safe in Botswana?
Keletso Thobega | Wednesday October 22, 2014 19:37
It seems our popos have turned into power hungry, trigger-happy entities. As much as police have a duty to protect civil community, trigger happy and emotionally charged police are going to kill and harm many people, some who could be innocent. We won’t even see action taken against police if the shot parties are innocent. It would just be another “sad story”. At the rate things are going, some officers are going to settle personal scores under duress that it was in line with their work.
In a bid to enforce law and order, some of police officers want to stamp their authority forgetting that civil society is not in competition with the cops. We should feel safe in their presence of the police not scared of them. A re tla kgona go tshela le batho, re nna re tshogile gore batla re hula marago? Cases of police brutality and harassment are increasing ere and we have valid reason to be scared!
Botswana has always prided itself as a country with political stability, peace and security, as well as commendable leadership and governance. However, things have changed in the past few years.
There’s a dark cloud hanging over the country threatening to wring out the last bits of peace and joy. Batswana have become scared that we even have to think twice before venturing out at night.
Some of our police officers are too aggressive. I recall a few years ago, one night, I hit the town as usual and wound up at a popular drinking hole in Gaborone, Block 8. It was great; cold drinks, beautiful people, intelligent conversation…you know that ‘good night out’ feel. Time flew and soon patrons started to disperse. It was almost midnight and the bar was closed. The manager agreed to allow a few people finish their last round off inside. Soon, a group of police and SSG officers barged in and started demanding that everyone leave. I was puzzled. For a moment I thought that maybe downing the golden waters had become illegal. We were addressed rudely and shoved around like rogues. This upset me, especially when we were pushed out with guns pointed at us as if we were criminals. I felt violated. That was tantamount to abuse. Since then, I have observed and experienced this on several different occasions. When you move about at night, the police harass you, ask endless questions and are suspicious of any explanation you give, no matter how you try to prove your innocence. A re tla bua le gore, borra, re tswa go kukuna!
Some people may argue that, Nnyaa, ba dira sentle re tshaba dirukhutlhi. But the biggest criminals dip into the coffers and commit murder while they are let off scotch free. How “ironic”!
Trying to curb crime and social misdemeanor shouldn’t rob people their civil liberties. People should not be controlled to the extent their movements are constantly monitored. As things stand, even going out for a midnight walk is akin to a crime. Although I agree that there are hardened criminals in our communities, ordinary Botswana shouldn’t be held hostage in their own backyard.
To add salt to injury, since our government is seemingly the guarantor of our freedom, dignity and rights, if you make any criticism against our leadership you will possibly be harassed or condemned to a life of servitude. The so-called DIS is supposedly mandated with “uprooting” the “enemies”. We don’t fear thieves now, but the very same people who are actually supposed to protect us. All this talk of disappearances, killings and hit lists has built social unrest, mistrust and resentment. What’s more depressing is that Batswana are now suspicious of one another, because “you would never know who is a snitch”, right?
Speculation has been rife that opposition political parties fuelled these rumours to make Batswana lose faith in the ruling party. It could be true that alleged security agents intentionally carry out these killings and tortures, or felons take advantage of the unsettling situation. What I know, is that we live under a dysfunctional political and social ambiance.