Botswana Police Commissioner Dinah Marathe says they have registered 51 cases of people reported as missing over the festive period.
Speaking to the media this morning (Tuesday), the chief of police revealed the staggering statistics, further adding that the reports increased by double the amount when compared to the 2023–3024 festive period.
The missing persons reports were recorded from December 19, 2024, to January 5, 2025. For the same period in the previous year, the police had recorded 25 missing persons cases.
“The number of people reported missing increased by 100% meaning an increase of 26 cases. Some of these included children aged between three and 14 who went missing on rainy days observed during the Christmas and New Year holidays. About 30 missing persons were found in good condition whilst three were found dead from drowning. Eight missing persons, 10 being young females between the ages of 16 and 24 have still not yet been found,” the top cop revealed.
The police commissioner believes public education to promote social cohesion by stakeholders should be intensified to reduce incidences of missing person reports.
