Smash-and-grab incidents became common at traffic lights, Automatic Teller Machine (ATM) bombings made headlines too often, cash-in-transit robberies terrified security personnel, while home invasions left families traumatised in the very places they were supposed to feel safest. The situation had reached alarming levels and threatened not only the peace of ordinary citizens, but also the country’s reputation as one of the safest and most stable nations in the region. It is against this background that the former Minister of Defence and Security, Kagiso Mmusi, made a strong call on the police to intensify efforts and do whatever it takes within the confines of the law to root out violent crime.
Since then, there has been a noticeable improvement. The once rampant incidents of organised criminal activity in Greater Gaborone appear to have declined significantly. Citizens are beginning to regain confidence in the country’s law enforcement agencies, and for that, the police deserve recognition.
