After all, we have heard what might have led to the death of the Martin’s Drift Station Commander (may his soul rest in peace), who took his life whilst still clad in police uniform, inside a police van, using a service rifle.
We, however, admit that the loss of a life, no matter how it came about, is a sensitive thing and the bereaved family should be given space to mourn the loss of their loved one.
However, we certainly doff our hats off to the Commissioner of Police Dinah Marathe and her lieutenants for their professional handling of the situation at Martin’s Drift. It was a crisis of the highest order.
Reports show that Monday this week, just around lunch time, there was a stampede at Machaneng Police Station when the Station Commander, armed with a service rifle, took aim and shot at his superior after a morning’s disciplinary enquiry, sending scared officers running for their dear lives before he drove away in an official vehicle whereupon his search party later found him dead near Lerala village.
The Police Commissioner might have lately been worried by some accounting officers who collect hard-earned public funds from Batswana through the admission of guilt and other means, only to benefit some unscrupulous senior police officers who choose to convert public funds into their personal benefits.
We hear that the Botswana Police Service’s (BPS) internal affairs department has been deployed across the country doing snap checks (surprise audits) on officers who seemingly keep public funds in the comfort of their official safes longer than necessary and holding them accountable. In fact, the BPS is expected to do much better when it comes to handling public funds, more so that they strictly enforce all written laws. They are forced to read and live by the spirit and letter of the Public Finance Management Act and Financial Instructions and Procedures more than other government departments.
Armed with the general comprehension of all other statutes, the police know better that when officers convert public funds into their personal use, even if they intend to repay it later, the act amounts to common theft.
We have learnt that there is some alleged rot in the BPS where some accounting officers use public funds that come into their possession by virtue of their positions for their personal gain. Therefore, the efforts of the BPS internal affairs unit to uproot this rot deserve plaudits and will definitely not go unnoticed.
It is only unfortunate that in Martin’s Drift, the unit’s attempts to bring order to the station ended with a tragic loss of life and an injury to another officer. Others suffered trauma.
We take this opportunity to applaud the Marathe-led BPS for expeditiously dealing with emerging challenges as the good name of the police continues to be dragged in the mud also by the same officers who are expected to uphold exemplary leadership.
As a newspaper, we cannot simply abdicate our oversight responsibility for whatever reason. Continue cracking the whip, Police Commissioner; you have our support!
“Public money ought to be touched with the most scrupulous consciousness of honour.”– Thomas Paine
However, we certainly doff our hats off to the Commissioner of Police Dinah Marathe and her lieutenants for their professional handling of the situation at Martin’s Drift. It was a crisis of the highest order.
Reports show that Monday this week, just around lunch time, there was a stampede at Machaneng Police Station when the Station Commander, armed with a service rifle, took aim and shot at his superior after a morning’s disciplinary enquiry, sending scared officers running for their dear lives before he drove away in an official vehicle whereupon his search party later found him dead near Lerala village.
The Police Commissioner might have lately been worried by some accounting officers who collect hard-earned public funds from Batswana through the admission of guilt and other means, only to benefit some unscrupulous senior police officers who choose to convert public funds into their personal benefits.
We hear that the Botswana Police Service’s (BPS) internal affairs department has been deployed across the country doing snap checks (surprise audits) on officers who seemingly keep public funds in the comfort of their official safes longer than necessary and holding them accountable. In fact, the BPS is expected to do much better when it comes to handling public funds, more so that they strictly enforce all written laws. They are forced to read and live by the spirit and letter of the Public Finance Management Act and Financial Instructions and Procedures more than other government departments.
Armed with the general comprehension of all other statutes, the police know better that when officers convert public funds into their personal use, even if they intend to repay it later, the act amounts to common theft.
We have learnt that there is some alleged rot in the BPS where some accounting officers use public funds that come into their possession by virtue of their positions for their personal gain. Therefore, the efforts of the BPS internal affairs unit to uproot this rot deserve plaudits and will definitely not go unnoticed.
It is only unfortunate that in Martin’s Drift, the unit’s attempts to bring order to the station ended with a tragic loss of life and an injury to another officer. Others suffered trauma.
We take this opportunity to applaud the Marathe-led BPS for expeditiously dealing with emerging challenges as the good name of the police continues to be dragged in the mud also by the same officers who are expected to uphold exemplary leadership.
As a newspaper, we cannot simply abdicate our oversight responsibility for whatever reason. Continue cracking the whip, Police Commissioner; you have our support!
“Public money ought to be touched with the most scrupulous consciousness of honour.”– Thomas Paine
