Africa-Press – Botswana. President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi says public safety is a key enabler of socio-economic development as well as maintenance of peace and tranquillity.
“As a nation, we require a safe and secure environment if we are to succeed in our efforts to attract potential investors into the country to set up businesses thereby creating employment opportunities for Batswana,” he said during a tour of Broadhurst Police Station yesterday.
The President said in view of the strategic importance of public safety and security in facilitating peace, stability and economic development, government continued to introduce initiatives to strengthen the system.
He mentioned deployment of unmanned aerial vehicles and expansion of the safe city CCTV surveillance system as some of the initiatives.
Dr Masisi said he was fully aware of police officers’ working environment, including resource limitations.
“I can assure you that despite competing resource challenges facing the country, government will continue to prioritise and complement law enforcement resources to the benefit of Batswana,” he said.
The President urged the Ministry of Defence and Security to ensure that Botswana Police Service (BPS) continued to prioritise and channel policing resources towards needy areas where crime challenges remained high.
Dr Masisi said professional policing dictated periodic review and alignment of crime counter-strategies and public safety programmes to match emerging challenges.
The process, he said, required competent, dynamic and change-oriented police officers with high integrity.
“As police officers, you are compelled by your code of conduct to always abide by the rule of law and adopt zero tolerance stance towards corruption,” said the President.
He also stressed the need for officers to respect the rights of both citizens and residents.
Dr Masisi noted that international indices such as Global Police Index and the World Internal Security and Police Index rated BPS as the best in Africa.
“We continue to score satisfactorily in areas of the rule of law, order and security, criminal justice, absence of corruption and fundamental rights,” he said.
President Masisi said many countries viewed Botswana as a beacon of peace, tranquillity and democracy.
“I am both impressed and encouraged by the hard work and commitment you continue to display as a police service,” he said adding that the commitment has translated into positive results.
However, the President said even though it was proper and fitting to celebrate the successes, ‘we should not forget the need to continuously nurture and strengthen this positive outlook for the benefit of both our current and future generations’.
With regard to Broadhurst Police Station, he said despite it covering a wide and densely populated area, Dr Masisi said concerted efforts in addressing new crime trends such as cash-in transit heists, home invasions, gender based violence and child abuse were remarkably impactful.
He thanked the officers for their daily sacrifices towards ensuring the safety and security of communities and encouraged them to maintain the highest level of discipline, professionalism and to remain apolitical.
By so doing, they would ensure that BPS delivered to expectations and continued earning public trust and confidence, he said.
“I wish to emphasise the need to serve with professionalism as articulated by the Botswana Police Service core values; Botho, Excellence, Integrity and Team Work,” he said.
Dr Masisi reminded officers of government’s transformation plan and its driver, the Reset Agenda which included digitalisation and mindset change.
The President promised that 10 of the best police officers under the age of 30 would have automatic placement in next year’s Forbes Under 30 Africa Summit.
An additional five places would be reserved for the most transformative, forward looking and futuristic officers above the age of 30, he said.
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