22 murder cases over festive

Pini Bothoko | Monday January 8, 2018 16:48

 

The police recorded 22 murder cases during the end of year operations that ran from December 18, 2017 to January 3, 2018.

According the Botswana Police Service’s public relations officer, Dipheko Motube there was an increase of murder case as compared to the corresponding period of 2016, with 20 cases recorded.

In fact, Motube noted that the increase of murder was throughout the year, as in 2017 they recorded 307 murder cases against 285 in the previous year. 

The police investigations showed that most murder cases were as a result of killings related to love affairs and misunderstandings that erupted mostly at drinking places. 

Motube said over the years they have been conducting awareness campaigns urging people to respect the sanctity of life and avoid settling disputes through violent means but that seem to be falling into deaf ears. 

 “We have observed that most people are violet something linked to the abuse of alcohol and drugs. These cases usually starts as unlawful wounding and end up as murder. People should not resort to violence and consider talking things out to solve their differences,” Motube said. 

He said that generally 51 deaths were recorded over the festive season and out of this number 29 deaths were as a result of road traffic accidents. In the corresponding period in 2016, there were 31 deaths recorded in road accidents and 20 resulted from murder. 

Meanwhile Motube said from December 18, 2017 to January 3, 2018 the police recorded a slight decrease of 256 cases of breakings as compared to 362 cases the previous year. He said that the police also recorded a slight decrease in rape cases this year. There were 110 rape cases in 2017 as compared to 138 cases in 2016.

“Most of rape cases occur from December 24 to 26 and rise again from December 31 to January 1, during the busy days when there is a lot of movement with people networking and cash circulating. We are pleading with members of the public not to let their guards down during festive season and to take care of themselves at all times especially that most rape cases occur at night where women are attacked and raped whilst walking alone at night,” Motube said.