Africa-Press – Botswana. The Minister for State President, Mr Moeti Mohwasa has told Parliament that his ministry is awaiting approval of 936 posts for financial year 2025/26, for employment of police officers to be specifically deployed across the five divisions to enforce protection of livestock in the country.
Speaking during the ongoing Parliament session on Monday, Mr Mohwasa said the stock theft unit had not yet reached the desired levels of manpower resources but had been instrumental in delivering effective operations through the flagship operation known as Kgomo Khumo.
He confirmed that there were plans for the development of the branch by facilitating a substantial increase in manpower and equipment, which commenced last year with the deployment of 150 police officers graduating from training at the Botswana Police College.
The deployment he said, was preceded by specialised training in anti-stock theft laws and procedures to prepare them to effectively deliver on their core mandate.
Mr Mohwasa explained that the anti-stock theft portfolio in the Botswana Police Service was performed by a fully fledged branch of the organisation which was formed April 2016 and was established at branch level in recognistion of the critical role it played in safeguarding a very important economic resource for Botswana.
The branch covers all divisions being Northern, North West, North Central, South and South Central. He was responding to MP for Maun West, Mr Caterpillar Hikuama who wanted to know about the state of the stock theft unit under Botswana Police Service.
Mr Hikuama also wanted to know if the unit had been adequately resourced and staffed to cope with the increasing rate of stock theft in country and whether there were plans and timelines for the development of the unit.
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