Prisons Commissioners discuss Prison reform

EPHRAIM KEORENG
Staff Writer | Monday April 26, 2010 00:00

Responding to questions at a conference organised by his department in Gaborone on homosexuality in prisons, Motlalekgosi said that 'if homosexuality can happen in a normal society, who says it could not happen in places like prisons and other men and women only institutions?' he wondered.

There has been a concern, especially from organisations like BONELA, that the Botswana prisons system is inundated with cases of homosexual rape that go unreported. BONELA has lately called for the supply of condoms to prisons but the government has refused. Despite ex-convicts' evidence that there is sexual interaction among men, something which puts prisoners at the risk of HIV/AIDS infection, government is adamant that it will not supply condoms.

At the conference held to consult with retired commissioners on how to better the prisons system, Motlalekgosi said he was baffled why they do not get reports from prisoners in custody about the rapes and other sodomy that is rumoured to be happening.

He has also stated that as long as the constitution of Botswana outlaws homosexuality, there is no way they can introduce condoms in prisons.

'In Botswana, homosexuality is a crime, therefore it will be confusing to provide condoms at the same time.Perhaps you should ask the legislators, who are the law makers this question,' he said.

Meanwhile, the commissioner said that he has realised that prison officers are stigmatised such that in some occasions he has wondered himself if 'people were looking me as if I am a prisoner and not a prisons commissioner. We need to re-brand ourselves and build a good image of the prisons system. People should also know that we are civil servants just like anyone,' he said.

He said there was need to engage stakeholders, especially the public about what the prisons are all about, saying this will also to build a positive perception about prisons officers.

He said that even he, before he became prisons commissioner, he lived next to a prisons facility (prison) in Francsitown for four years but never bothered to go and see what the officers were doing there.

'But I have since realised that prison is a big thin. It touches on almost everyone, cuts across all divides, from political to religion right through to social classes,' he said.

He said that on the few occasions that he had met President Ian Khama, he has impressed it upon him that the prisons service needs to be improved, especially the working conditions of officers.

'I can tell you that at the moment something is being done at a very high level to remedy the situation,' he said.The commissioners who attended the conference included past immediate commissioner, Herman Tau, his predecessor, Joseph Orebotse, whilst Brigadier Sebolao who was commissioner before Orebotse was not in attendance.

The first local commissioner, Lucas Ramokwa, together with his successor, Bernard Lekoko, also attended.