Lack of debate hinders security policy formulation-BDF Commander
Bame Piet | Wednesday June 10, 2015 15:59
Commander of Botswana Defence Force Lieutenant General Gaolatlhe Galebotswe told the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) further that many people do not fully understand the subject of security and they view or limit it only to security agencies such as BDF, intelligence, and policing.
“When you look deeper into operations of almost every government department, you will identify a security issue. It can be on agriculture, health, or any other department,” he said.
He urged the nation not to be shy to come up with formal fora to debate security issues.
The Commander stated that while the BDF is taking part in patrols with members of Botswana Police Service, it is not to say that the army has taken over the role of policing.
He said that when they do joint operations with the police, it is to protect members of the public and their property, adding that there are differing opinions on their engagement. “There are some who say we should not be part of these operations, and there are others who suggest that we should just take over from the police.
“However, if our principals think that we should not be part of these, we would be glad to stay in the barracks and do other things,” he said in response to a question on whether crime rates have reached alarming statistics.
Lt General Galebotswe stated that during the run-up to the 2014 general elections, there were some politicians who attempted to turn the barracks into a political battlefield but as the leadership of the BDF they stopped that.
He said that the BDF Act is very clear that the barracks should not be used for politicking. In addition, he said that the African continent has bad examples of what could happen to a country that allows politicisation of the army.
The PAC also heard that sexual relationships were prohibited in the army, especially between junior and senior officers as that has potential for a conflict of interest in either of the partners.
He said that falling pregnant during training is strictly prohibited and warrants immediate dismissal.
Galebotswe said that the programme in which ex- soldiers were engaged for other operations has since been halted adding that the army has no re-employment programme.
He also confirmed that the army has no shoot-to-kill policy when doing anti-poaching operations, but said that there are instances where poachers open fire on soldiers, who find themselves left with no option but to fight back.
“It is not negotiable, in those instances you have to shoot to kill,” he said.
He said that officers are leaving the army for various reasons such as greener pastures, retirement and in some instances some officers leave at the same time because they enrolled the same year. llowed in the classroom without an equivalent accreditation from his or her place of origin.