It has always been our view that in order to serve the functions for which they were set up, the Botswana Police Service needed to be supported with both human and material resources. There is no question that the more developed and globalised world we live in provides much more complex challenges for law enforcement agencies. While pre-independent southern Africa may have been more demanding on the issues of national security, the more stable region now puts demands on the law enforcement system as people become much more settled and build personal success. As investment grows in the region, investors will also put extra demands on such institutions as Botswana Police Service to protect and secure their investments.
On the other hand, the most vulnerable of our citizens will continue to expect timely reaction from the police service. The fact that the region is also becoming more and more integrated means that criminals gain greater mileage from the exchange of knowledge with other criminal elements across the borders. We recognise, therefore, that the service needs to consist of well-trained officers, highly developed in specialised skills and a well-organised infrastructure to which the Air Wing is a much-needed addition.
Botswana has a small population and the large landmass often proves a challenge to a relatively small police service; and so the Air Wing should provide extra mobility.
It is important that the leaders of this country get their priorities right, and recognise the central role that a well-resourced police service can play in this country. While we applaud the envisaged acquisition of three helicopters, we maintain that it is too little. With Botswana's 1.7 million people, it means each helicopter would be catering for roughly 560 000 people.
We think that is too big a number. Government should seriously consider increasing the fleet once the Air Wing is up and running. If government can afford to spend nearly half-a-billion Pula on an aircraft for one national leader, surely Botswana should be able to get a few more helicopters so our police force can service the entire nation.
Today's Thought
