He explained that the Service is committed to ensuring safe custody, rehabilitation, and reintegration of offenders to promote societal protection and national development. “These funds will be utilised to cover operational expenses for Botswana Prison Service, ensuring the efficient management and rehabilitation of inmates,” Ramaotwana said. “However, the funds will not be sufficient to cater for personal emoluments because our actual budget estimate for personal emolument was cut by P48, 235,177.00,” he added. Presenting the budget proposals for the Administration of Justice (AOJ) for the financial year 2025-2026, the minister said security remains a priority to create a safe environment for both inmates and staff, facilitating effective rehabilitation. He stated that efforts to enhance rehabilitation include improving facilitator training, equipping psycho-social officers, and tailoring programmes to address common offences like substance abuse and domestic violence. “To combat gender-based violence, Prisons launched the Gender-Based Violence Perpetrators Programme in 2021, enrolling 1,211 inmates since April 2024. Reintegration is also a key focus, 522 Community-Based Reintegration Committees established nationwide,” added the minister.
Ramaotwana emphasised that all the efforts made have supported 317 ex-offenders, with 167 securing employment, contributing to reduced recidivism and stronger community participation. Speaking further on the costly rehabilitation of inmates, he said inmates are provided with vocational training and rehabilitation. He added that there has been success in that area because currently a total of 609 inmates are enrolled in vocational training programmes. From this cohort, 41 inmates already trade-tested and certified in bakery and confectionery, fence construction, and bricklaying & plastering and another 174 inmates are awaiting testing at the Madirelo Training and Testing Centre, he said. “Notably, some ex-offenders have successfully reintegrated into society. Examples include a former inmate from Mahalapye who now runs a bakery and another from Selebi-Phikwe who became an ordained pastor and motivational speaker after undergoing character development programmes. These success stories highlight the transformative impact of rehabilitation initiatives,” Ramaotwana told Parliament. On challenges and mitigations, the minister pointed out that the prison service has faced several challenges despite progress in some areas and that security remains a concern, with two escapes recorded in the 2024-2025 financial year, contrary to the zero-escape target. He stressed that overcrowding in high-security prisons continues to strain resources and impact inmate management and additionally, drought in certain areas has affected food production on prison farms, limiting the success of food security efforts. “Limited funding for rehabilitation programmes also hinders the effective implementation of vocational training and behavioural change initiatives, as demand exceeds available resources,” he said.
Ramaotwana said addressing the issues remains a priority for improving prison operations and that the prison is implementing several remedial measures to address key challenges such as; *Overcrowding and Security of which a comprehensive prisoner classification system is being developed to manage the population effectively and the security measures, including improved prison fencing and enhanced high-risk facility management, are being strengthened. *Irrigation Farming is meant to combat drought impacts, irrigation farming is being introduced at prison farms to ensure consistent food production. *Rehabilitation Programmes of which rehabilitation efforts are being reviewed and tailored to specific offences, with a focus on offender corrections and improved staffing. Increased budget allocation is being sought to support these efforts. *Probation Officers Recruitment, the minister said more probation officers are needed to facilitate the reintegration of offenders into society. *On Transformation, he noted that the service is transitioning into a fully-fledged correctional institution, requiring substantial investment in infrastructure, staff training, and rehabilitation programs to meet international standards.
On budget allocation, Ramaotwana said the recurrent budget during the 2024-2025 financial year, the Ministry of Justice was allocated a budget of P146, 268,100.00 and later revised to P141 million. He described that as of the end of February 2025, a total of P111.4 million has been utilised. “This represents 79% of the total revised budget for the financial year. The Botswana Prison Service under former Ministry of Defence and Security was warranted a recurrent budget of P872, 140,780.00. This amount was in compliance to the financial ceiling which was below our actual budget for allowances estimate. Therefore, our personnel emolument for the year is short by P21.5 million,” he said. Ramaotwana further stated that as at the end February 2025, the expenditure stood at P798.1 million, representing 91.5% of the total budget.
He explained that it was important to note that expenditure is projected to increase further by the end of the financial year, as the Ministry continues to fulfil its mandates and implement its programmes. Meanwhile, on the development budget, he said the BPS was originally allocated P110.2 million for development projects in the 2024-2025 financial year under the former Ministry of Defence and Security. Ramaotwana pointed out that the budget was later revised to P38 million and that as of February 28, 2025, P16.1million had been spent, representing 42.3% of the revised budget. “I seek authority to spend a Development Budget of P60.1 million for the 2025-2026 financial year, representing a 52.6% increase from the previous year’s allocation of P39.4 million. He mentioned that key budget allocations include P25 million for refurbishing prison facilities, P10 million for farming infrastructure and equipment, and P11.1 million for Public-Private Partnership (PPP) projects such as the Lobatse Rehabilitation Centre, Prison Headquarters building and staff housing. “Additionally, P11.1 million will be allocated to Development Manager Projects, covering Sepopa Prison Farm, Relocation of Kasane Prison to Pandamatenga and construction of staff houses at Baines Drift, Boro and Tshane,” he said.
Ramaotwana said the remaining P2.9 million will be used to support and maintain the Prison Information Management System and install standby generators at Serowe and Division North Command Office in Francistown.
