Africa-Press – Botswana. A flight of swallows circles and hovers under the dark, drizzling clouds, scanning the arena below where multitudes of revellers, chiefly youngsters, who thronged the Botswana Prison Staff College, waited with bated breath the kick-starting of proceedings and by extension the arrival of President Advocate Duma Boko.
While the dark clouds bore the promise of rain, the Botswana Prison Service (BPS), clad in their khaki ceremonial uniform and anchored still, paraded on the brick-paved arena and together with the multitude revellers braved the chilly weather to pay homage to the coveted medal recipients.
Finally, a much-awaited announcement reverberates around the arena. Children, who descended into the college in dizzying numbers, shrieked and thundered eardrums. The President is walking the red carpet. He waves in return, recognising the love and admiration from the youngsters. The crowd roars over the overburdened scaffold stands.
Even when inspecting the guard of honour, young boys and girls kept screaming at the sight of the President. It was the first time he presides over the BPS awards since he ascended to the country’s top most political seat. All these set the tone for the celebrations and victories of the officers who amongst other things were recognised for Distinguished Service Order during the BPS’ 67th celebrations.
A total of 15 employees received the Botswana Prison Service Distinguished Service Order (BPDO), 44 received Botswana Prison Service Jubilee Service Medal (BPJM) while 90 received Botswana Prison Service medal (BPSM).
BPDO is awarded to members of the BPS for a meritorious service with exemplary record
and have served in the BPS for at least 30 continuous years. The BPJM is awarded to
members of the BPS who have served for at least 25 years of continuous and good service while BPSM is awarded to officers with a service of 18 years and have been adjudged to be of good conduct the BPS.
Having joined the BPS in June 1, 1994 after completing degree, a double major in public
administration and accounting and joining the service as a principal officer, Sekano Sekano, now a deputy commissioner-custodial services, boasts a feat he claims no one else has ever achieved.
“This is a hugely significant recognition that affirms my utmost dedication and commitment to serving this country and for such a long time with an impeccable disciplinary record,” said deputy commissioner Sekano, who boasts to be the first ever prison officer to receive a medal from President Boko.
Armed with a BPDO, the deputy commissioner Sekano said the recognition stoke some incessant pride in him. Although he joined the service without any insight into the operations of prison services, Mr Sekano soon developed some love for the role he played especially in helping people in difficult conditions and or situations like the prisoners.
He rose steadily from a principal officer until he became a deputy commissioner. Now, the deputy commissioner, who has served as an instructor and head of the BPS staff college,
finds himself charged with responsibilities of ensuring that courses offered at the college
were accredited and raised to a level of diploma.
Mr Sekano conceded to the challenges of serving under the prison service saying one may often find themselves separated from their loved ones, a test he said many had to battle with and win.
Another of the medal recipients, deputy commissioner-support services, Lethata Manne, who has served for 25 years with total commitment, care and diligence, plus some personal sacrifices, did so ‘to render Batswana the services they deserved.’ A recipient of BPJM, Mr Manne said the medal was an affirmation by the service that he had consistently rendered quality service with an unimpeachable disciplinary record.
“This service is with challenges because you’re charged with responsibilities of correctional services on people who landed here in different emotional outlooks. Some of them come here in dire distress such that you may find yourself mentally disturbed by the conditions they come in,” said deputy commissioner, Manne.
However, Manne said officers relied on their training to defeat the challenges. He said failure to change the behavior of the inmates and remodel them into desired beings could end up with them changing the officer’s, a move, which could make the officer’s professional and personal lives difficult.
“This is the kind of call that stretches an officer to a point where they’re even required
to work beyond their normal working hours,” he said adding that with the right balance of
professional and personal lives, one could always succeed.
Having joined the BPS as assistant principal officer and rose to the level of deputy commissioner, Mr Manne said he laboured in his success ladder chiefly due to the competition from fellow officers to whom he paid massive respect.
To stand above all, one had to divorce themselves from those actions that could impugn their disciplinary record. While celebrating his feat, deputy commissioner Manne finds the attendance by the multitude as a mark of success and pure satisfaction.
Amongst the attendants were inmates. The blending of inmates and the members of the community is, to Mr Manne, a successful move and a testament that efforts toward correctional services were bearing fruits.
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