The President made the remarks when officiating the recent launch of this year’s Botswana Police Service (BPS) and Botswana Defence Force (BDF) joint festive season crime prevention operation. The event was held under the theme ‘A crime-free festive season and beyond’.
Boko said streets are no longer safe as people are attacked and robbed of their hard-earned valuables. He further raised concerns that crime continues to spiral out of control as people’s houses are broken into day and night with residents left impoverished by criminals.
“Usually these criminals would have spent time studying people’s movements and have identified possibilities of robbing them without getting arrested. I am pleading with you as law enforcement agencies to act with professionalism, maintain public trust, and use minimal force. Today as we launch this joint festive season operation marks the beginning of reaction towards crime and the plea is for you to help people feel safe this coming festive season and beyond,” he said.
Boko further pleaded with members of the community to be prepared to welcome law enforcement agencies in their areas and help them curb crime in whatever form. Moreover, he called on members of the community to be prepared to give officers tip-offs to help breakthroughs in their investigations and make successful arrests.
“Of late, the country has been recording a surge in criminal activities especially Gender Based Violence (GBV) cases as they continue to spiral out of control. He said women and girls who are usually victims continue to live in fear of criminals. Botswana has long been facing GBV crisis and this social ill does not seem to end as men continue to violate women and girls thus keeping the police busy,” he said.
He stated that the police are struggling to keep up with this scourge as people no longer value the sanctity of life choosing to kill whenever it suits them pleading with the youth who are usually the perpetrators of crime to refrain from engaging in crime.
“If the relationship is not working avoid solving disputes through violent means rather leave that relationship before taking one’s life. We have social workers, Dikgosi, and pastors who are always available to act as mediators and provide counseling for free. Efforts are in place from us as the new administration to help improve your lives as the youth by creating job opportunities but in the process, we are pleading with you to refrain from engaging in criminal activities,” Boko said.
Meanwhile, Police Commissioner, Dinah Marathe shared the same sentiments that crime remains a concern with GBV-related offences remaining the major concern keeping police on their toes something that calls for everyone’s involvement.
Moreover, looking at road accidents and their statistics, Marathe pleaded with farmers and members of the public to help them keep livestock, especially cattle away from the road as they also contribute a larger percentage of accidents that continue to claim people’s lives with high numbers.
“In 2021 we lost 404 people on the road, the number that slightly dropped to 396 in 2022, and in 2023 we lost 370 people on our roads. Please help the police and other law enforcement agencies to curb these cases and eliminate road deaths,” he said
