Phikwe is next in shaming of suspects
Onalenna Kelebeile | Wednesday November 15, 2017 19:26
Speaking during Mabothaphofu Crime Prevention Cluster (MCPC) launch recently, Kesupile said drug dealers must know that the raids that are taking place in Gaborone will soon start in the mining town.
“I am just giving them a chance to put their houses in order. We know where they are, but it is unfortunate that we will not announce the date when we will pounce on them. This includes those illegally possessing ammunitions,” he said.
He added that some people harbour property solicited from acts of crime in their houses and said in some instances houses are rented and paid on monthly basis just to keep such.
He added that cluster policing is an initiative by government, in collaboration with Botswana Police, to mobilise citizens within their jurisdiction to appreciate the need to jointly fight crime.
Kesupile noted that community policing still remains the widely practised and most effective crime prevention strategy ever to be adopted by this country.
He said the launch of MCPC could not have come at a more opportune time than during the 60 days of action against crime and road accidents, and added that since its inception there has been a significant decline in crimes during the year 2014/2015.
He however said that since the closure of BCL Mine in October last year, several incidents of crime sprawled once more across many policing district localities here.
He strongly warned against political affiliations affecting the noble efforts by Mabophaphofu. “Crime prevention is a collective responsibility that should not be derailed by political affiliations,” he said.
Cluster chairperson, Edward Mabelebele said they found it necessary to revive residents’ participation in crime prevention. He emphasised the importance of neighbourhood watch, especially in towns where neighbours become immediate family members.
He regretted that financial stability by some families plays a part in disintegrating the family fabric because it makes some people uncooperative. “People can afford insurance policies and metshelo and believe they can be independent but there are circumstances when you need other people around you.
We have realised this in MCPC but money should never divide us. Robbers nowadays target uncooperative people who do not attend neighbourhood watch meetings,” he said.
Mabelebele added that political differences and denominations also divide the community because some do not attend the cluster activities just because area councillors are affiliated to a certain political party or the chairperson belongs to a particular church.
Station Commander, Victor Nlebesi said the town has never had such an event in the last nine years except in 2008 when clusters were formed. He said a majority of the community have relocated out of Phikwe since the mine closure and this has affected crime prevention committees. He said Mabothaphofu on the other hand chose not to despair but pick up the pieces and restarted the cluster. Nlebesi appealed to all residents to come forth and join Mabothaphofu cluster to help combat crime.