Independence for soldiers, prisoners

Richard Moleofe | Friday October 7, 2016 16:15

The reason why the military seems to be always at the forefront of things is because they are always almost ready to do all the odd jobs that government would want done. It’s cheaper to do any of these menial odd jobs by way of engaging the military.

The fact is; this group has significant levels of human resource as compared to other institutions in government. And because we are still at peace time, soldiers are an appropriate group that can fill up the gaps.

Going to any of their camps now, the barracks are almost deserted. Most of them are gone on leave or are on off days. Because soldiers are not entitled to overtime, they are often rewarded with days off.

I foresee the greatest official desertion coming because soldiers were really busy this past one month. On the actual Independence Day I had my own way of celebrating. I had to run a five kilometre stretch from my house in Mogoditshane to the barracks which is BDF HQ. That was one kilometre for every ten years of independence. As I approached the main entrance I met up with a flashy motorcade for the new commander. I was really impressed. The commander and his deputy have acquired a new fleet with enhanced security features.

The commander was leaving the camp at 0615 AM and I could imagine what time the rest of the soldiers departed for the national stadium. I am reminded of my own youth when I used to ambush a lift on BDF vehicles leaving for the stadium. On three occasions, I hitched a hike on Captain Moatswi’s Land Rover. This was a man who always acted the part of a rebel leader every Independence Day. The fellow resembled Idi Amin in more than one way.

Now, imagine a day of independence without the involvement of the military. Even before the establishment of the BDF, Botswana Police Force through the Police Mobile Unit was a key element in the events at the National Stadium.

Without a doubt, members of the public have always enjoyed the performance of the military. By the way; most countries would engage their militaries to perform at such events of national importance. For sure BDF is a military organisation which is very much loved by members of the public. Their public ratings are still sky high and that makes them ideal to participate in that fashion. However, this year’s celebrations were more diverse. There were so many other government departments making statements at the National Stadium. That gave a good general feel of the history of our country since independence.

By the way; I came across a very silly joke on Facebook about our soldiers. Someone posted that after 50-years of independence BDF soldiers have not gone to war. They suggest that at least they should challenge for a friendly match either between Zimbabwe or South Africa.

There is always that peculiar group that often takes a back seat in the events of Independence Day. The prisoners are that group. There has been a lot of noise coming from a rehabilitation group about the use of prisoners in the build up to the big day.

I am not often found to agree with the actions of our government. This time around on the issue of the use of prisoners, I not only agree but will go an extra mile and defend such actions.

The government engaged several men and women doing time especially in the Gaborone penitentiary in activities for our year of jubilee. This has of course reduced the wage bill on the part of government. The argument from members of the rehabilitation group for prisoners is that government should have opted for free men rather than prisoners in creating beauty toward the big day. Regardless of what international treaties say in the use of prison labour, I do not see any sense in government spending money by engaging free men while they could use free labour from our prisons. In the first place prisoners are men and women who have been trained in different fields and trades. This training made it easy for them to create the zebras and the beautiful dry gardens in our roundabouts.

Government is already spending on the prisoners and I do not get the rationale in getting those fellows to busk in the sun and do nothing when the rest of the country was working at one thing; independence. I don’t think those complaining are tax payers. Tax payers would not want to see any more new budgetary expenses over and above the P100 million which has already gone down the drain.

It is actually high time that our government opens up prisons with farms where those doing time can make meaningful contribution to the economy of our country.  In fact like some have suggested in the past, we need to deal with the growing prison population in an even more focused way. I am actually calling for the use of methods that fall a little short of applying hard labour.

In countries where prisoners are used for purposes of agricultural production, the numbers of those entering prison has somewhat pointed down. But it seems in this country we are just too happy to see these fellows being fed like oxen in a fattening ranch getting readied for slaughter.

South Africa was one country that kept the system of prison labour until 1994. The system was not only aimed at meeting production targets set by the authorities. It rather served as a deterrent especially for new offenders.

Worse still, members of the public were allowed to hire labour from prisons. That would require a prisoner to move into a private farm and begin to take orders from the owner of the property.