Africa-Press – Botswana. Communities and businesses have been called upon to help refurbish or build new facilities for Botswana Police Service (BPS) to help them deliver on their mandate.
Speaking during the community service day held at Molepolole police station on Friday, Minister for State President, Mr Moeti Mohwasa said the police was using the little they had to undertake maintenance of their offices, hence he challenged other stakeholders to help in financing some of the projects.
He said the police deserved a good working environment in order for them to better serve the public.
Also, Mr Mohwasa said in an effort to curb crime in Molepolole, Lekgwapheng police post, which had been refurbished and given the status of a full police station with a station commander, would be officially opened on February 21.
He said the number of police officers stationed at the station had been increased by 45 officers.
Mr Mohwasa said police welfare should be taken care of including the provision of resources, adding that they were doing a great job in ensuring safety of people and property.
He said the new government was committed to making sure that the police were taken care of and further encouraged the public to have good working relations with the police and help them fight crime.
Commissioner of Police Dinah Marathe said the Botswana Police Service had come up with an initiative for companies to work in collaboration with government to refurbish police stations around the country.
She said most police stations were old and in need of refurbishment, adding that they had started with Molepolole Police Station together with Police District Headquarters where experts on painting, electricity, and tiling had come in to help refurbish the offices.
Ms Marathe said Molepolole would get new police station and construction had started.
She said Lekgwapheng police post was being upgraded to police station status. This, she said, would help address crime in Molepolole.
She added that the community service day was an initiative that would be rolled out to other parts of the country for government to collaborate with the business community in improving conditions of police offices.
Commissioner Marathe said they would soon open Phakalane Police Post, Tati Town and Gaborone West, which had been built through the help of business people.
Kgosi Kgari III of Bakwena said he was happy that the police station was being refurbished to give it a new look that would also boost morale of police officers.
He said crime was rampant in Molepolole,which necessitated another police station and more resources.
He encouraged Bakwena to work with the police in fighting crime as they are an important stakeholders in crime prevention.
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