Securing the President

The University of Botswana (UB) political science lecturer, Dr Leonard Sesa, enunciated this week that the President represents the unity of the nation and is the embodiment of State continuity. Responding to Mmegi enquiries, the political scientist holds a strong view that, “threats to the President’s security can destabilise the political, social, and economic systems of the country.”

As the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces and the head of government, Sesa opines that the President is central to decision-making on national defence, internal security, and public order. Compromising their safety could undermine these critical functions.

The President serves as the face of Botswana on the global stage, shaping its image and fostering diplomatic relations. Any threat to the President’s safety could damage Botswana’s reputation and standing in international affairs. The safety of the President reassures citizens and stakeholders about the stability and functionality of the government. A breach in presidential security could erode public confidence and lead to uncertainty.

“Threats or harm to the President could be exploited by adversaries or factions to destabilise the country or challenge the legitimacy of the government, especially in politically diverse environments like Botswana under the UDC,” Sesa noted.

Of great importance, the President drives critical national policies. And thereby ensuring their safety guarantees the uninterrupted implementation of development agendas and governance initiatives, especially those aimed at uplifting the populace under a UDC-led government. In safeguarding constitutional order, the President’s security is integral to upholding constitutional order. Any harm could lead to a power vacuum or constitutional crisis, which might destabilise the nation.

“A secure President signals strength and preparedness, deterring both internal dissent and external threats from undermining Botswana’s sovereignty. The security of the State President is foundational to national stability, governance continuity, and Botswana’s global and domestic standing, regardless of the political leadership,” emphasised the UB lecturer.

Addressing the security lapse at the Gaborone National Stadium during President Boko’s first inauguration, where a young man almost breached the protective zone around the President, Sesa states that it raises important questions about the effectiveness of the combined efforts of Botswana’s national security agencies. While this incident may appear isolated, “it underscores vulnerabilities in an otherwise commendable security apparatus.”

Further analysing the National Stadium incident, Sesa is of the view that the individual came alarmingly close to the President during an event of significant national and international visibility. To him, such a scenario highlights weaknesses in perimeter security and crowd control measures.

It should also be noted that during an inauguration, the President represents the nation’s unity and stability. Any security breach at such a high-profile event can have symbolic and psychological ramifications, projecting an image of vulnerability.

“The response by security personnel, while eventual, suggests room for improvement in situational awareness, coordination, and rapid threat neutralisation,” he assessed.

On Botswana’s national security agencies (Botswana Defence Force (BDF), Botswana Police Service, Directorate of Intelligence and Security (DIS), and other allied bodies, he said they have demonstrated commendable capability in safeguarding national interests. “However, the incident reveals critical areas for enhancement.”

He also highlighted strengths of Botswana’s security framework, which he pointed out relies on collaboration between agencies, which generally ensures comprehensive coverage.

As for the army, the BDF and the DIS, Sesa hailed them for their rigorous training standards and discipline. He also paid homage to legal and procedural mechanisms that guide security operations effectively, particularly during routine events. On the flip side of things, he identified that the National Stadium setting likely posed unique challenges, including maintaining physical barriers and managing crowd proximity to the President. The ease with which the individual approached the President, to Sesa, suggests insufficient monitoring or failure of the layered security system.

“The delay in intercepting the individual reflects a need for better situational awareness and faster reaction protocols. High-profile events like inaugurations require more tailored risk assessments and dynamic security plans to mitigate unexpected threats,” he highlighted.

Sesa has also made recommendations

that in his view he hopes would improve

the security situation, inter alia:-Enhanced perimeter security: Deploy advanced technologies such as motion sensors, surveillance drones, and facial recognition cameras during public events

Crowd control measures: Establish and enforce clear zones of separation between the public and the dignitaries, with visible and physical barriers.

Interagency drills: Conduct joint simulations and drills focusing on high-profile event security to improve coordination and rapid response across agencies.

Intelligence-led security: Use intelligence resources (via DIS) to pre-emptively identify and address potential threats, particularly during events with large crowds.

Presidential close-protection training: Strengthen the training of the presidential protection unit to anticipate and neutralise threats in dynamic environments like public ceremonies.

Crisis management planning: Develop detailed contingency plans for unexpected breaches and ensure all personnel are familiar with them.

Despite the National Stadium incident, the UB academic’s overall rating of Botswana’s national security apparatus remains robust and capable. “However, in the context of this isolated breach, I would rate the combined efforts at 7/10, with the potential to achieve higher effectiveness by addressing the outlined vulnerabilities. The incident serves as a valuable lesson for reinforcing security protocols and maintaining the President’s safety under all circumstances,” he said.

Indicators of ‘top notch’ security amongst others include; minimal incidences of crime, terrorism, or unrest, quick and effective response to emergencies, high public confidence in security systems, recognition by global security and governance indices.

In summation, the UB lecturer pointed out that an intact security system is not just about a strong military or advanced technology. “It requires harmony between governance, societal trust, and a proactive, adaptive strategy to safeguard the nation’s interests across all dimensions.”

Former commander of the Botswana Defence Force (BDF), Lieutenant General Gaolathe Galebotswe, speaking to Mmegi about the security of the State President this week, said: “The President is the custodian of our national survival. As citizens we all look at him/her to accomplish our national aspirations both within and in international. Hence, he or she is referred to as ‘First Citizen’.”

Therefore, he stressed that all measures have to be undertaken to make sure his/her safety and security is never compromised 24/7.

“What happened at the National Stadium was a disaster in the making because it showed tremendous lapses in the layout of President ‘s protection structure. It is a typical case study of how one would not conduct VVIP protection operations,” he stressed.

He was hopeful that the National Stadium security lapse shall be a lesson learnt for the institution responsible for President Boko’ protection. “In any case, this event will be a case if not already the case in the VVIP protection field in terms of being the bad things that can happen when those charged with the job, not paying attention to details,” he said.

“We managed to get away on this one as the intruder did not pose any risk to the President. The worst case scenario would have left an irreparable stain in the history of this country. The proximity in which the young man was eventually would have been the end of a chapter for the President and tears for the nation,” he observed.

According to Galebotswe, the solution to this “is the lesson learnt and how it will be addressed to stop its recurrence. I would not think this was deliberate. Hence, I will not opt for drastic actions. It is just that we are accustomed to too much ceremonial posturing and this is what happened on the day. As much as this may look small, but, it is a lesson learnt as it exposed our protection drills.” Political commentator and a student of security studies, Solly Rakgomo, holds a view that within the realm of Botswana’s democracy, the President is the constitutional head of State and government as well as carrying great symbolic value within the society.

“It must be noted that contemporary world politics is plagued by complex security threats such as terrorism and it is within this context that a successful attack on a target of such symbolic and political value such as the President has a psychologically crippling effect on the target society or making the country an embarrassment to the world,” noted Rakgomo.

Since the threat perception to the life of the constitutional head of our State is quite high, Rakgomo postulates that robust and elaborate security arrangements and in-depth training for presidential security personnel are necessary to thwart any untoward incident.

“It is very vital that those assigned the roles and responsibility of protecting the President of a State be on a state of high alert on the course of their duties, which include close protection during travel, at official residences, and during public events.”

He buttressed: “They also gather intelligence and coordinate with other security agencies to mitigate potential threats. When it comes to training and skills, those tasked with protecting the President must regularly undergo rigorous training to ensure that they are up to the task in carrying out this sensitive role.” This includes physical fitness, combat skills, and intelligence gathering. This kind of training is necessary to handle a wide range of weapons and technology so as to ensure that each member can perform their duties with utmost dedication and professionalism. Rakgomo highlighted that in the course of providing security for the State President, there should be no room for mistakes as a simple schoolboy error can cost the life of a President, which can throw the whole country into serious political instability.

Speaking to Mmegi this week, the DIS director-general Peter Magosi, indicated that every country takes the security of its State President and country as a top priority.

“We can’t take it (the security) light at all. People can say whatever they want to possibly say and as an accounting officer, I and my team and other stakeholders take the security of this nation and that of the President as a top priority,” Magosi told Mmegi in an interview.

Commenting on a recent security breach that saw a young man straying into a close security area, Magosi indicated that he was able to meet the ‘harmless’ young man and all that he wanted was to tell President Boko his grievances.

The young man is an employee of the Ghanzi Hospital and during the course of his duty he fell from a scaffolding and instead of being heard within the health system, he was sent from pillar to post and this frustrated him bitterly.

On President Boko’s inauguration, he beat the security cluster and jumped into the security zone in order to share his story with the President sending security scares to the combined effort of the security agencies. Magosi is amongst those who listened to the young man’s story. His employers were also quick to find a solution to his problems after the incident.

Asked what action the DIS and other security agencies took, Magosi was quick to explain that all in all, their reaction to a situation is actually influenced by the nature of the threat at hand. If the threat is of a high level, “we would react differently.”

“We apply the appropriate use of force. Security dynamics dictate how we should react. In the final analysis, we found out that the young man was harmless. I met him and his story was clear that he only needed to be assisted out of his predicament but the system was seemingly failing him,” he explained.