Emerging state terrorism in Botswana

Incidents of public shootings stood at twelve by 2010. In prior years such incidents were rare and occasionally carried out against armed suspects following extensive intelligence exercises. This changed with the advent of the DIS. Shooting suspects and wanted criminals in public became conspicuous. Two of the cases were mistaken identities. A man suspected of stealing a mobile phone was shot in front of his family in Maun. The deceased turned out to have been preparing to leave for another city the next day. Another man on the police’s wanted list was shot in front of his father in Molepolole.