Recent revelation that 15 police officers stand accused of stock theft, a crime they were sworn to combat is a damning indictment of systemic failures within law enforcement.
As Botswana Police Service Commissioner Dinah Marathe disclosed to the Public Accounts Committee, these officers, including nine from Mochudi currently interdicted, exemplify a corrosive culture of impunity. This case is not isolated; it underscores an urgent need for structural reforms. When those entrusted to uphold the law become its brazen violators, public trust crumbles. Botswana must establish an Independent Police Investigation Division (IPID) now. For years, farmers have endured the devastating toll of stock theft, only to discover that the very officers tasked with protecting their livelihoods are complicit.
The betrayal is profound. Yet, as MP Palelo Motaosane highlighted, this scandal extends beyond livestock. Allegations of police involvement in illegal sand mining near Gaborone, with officers allegedly using their authority to shield illicit operations, further illustrate a pattern of abuse.
Such incidents are not mere anomalies but symptoms of deeper problems.
Marathe’s response, urging the public to report misconduct rings hollow. It is paradoxical to expect citizens to trust a force riddled with bad actors.
Her admission that police corruption mirrors societal decay, whilst candid, risks normalising criminality within the ranks. Law enforcement must be held to higher standards, not excused by comparison. Internal mechanisms, as evidenced by the sheer number of implicated officers, have failed.
Relying on self-policing is akin to allowing foxes to guard henhouses.
The Commissioner’s plea for butchers and vendors to 'self-regulate' through forums is equally unconvincing. When criminal networks infiltrate institutions, voluntary partnerships cannot suffice. What is required is robust, external scrutiny.
Botswana is not alone in facing this challenge. Nations like South Africa and the UK have established independent bodies to investigate police misconduct, recognising that internal probes often prioritise solidarity over justice.
An independent division, staffed by civilian experts insulated from institutional loyalties, would ensure transparency. It would also signal to both officers and the public that impunity ends here.
The erosion of trust in law enforcement is a national crisis. Without accountability, the social contract frays. Parliament must act swiftly to legislate an IPID. Only then can confidence be restored. The time for platitudes has passed; the time for action is now.
