Africa-Press – Botswana. There are currently no plans to introduce a dedicated drug rehabilitation programme at Molepolole Prison, despite growing concerns about drug-related offences among inmates.
Responding to a parliamentary question on Thursday, Minister of Justice and Correctional Services, Mr Nelson Ramaotwana said that while the department did not offer a specific drug rehabilitation programme, all prisons including Molepolole ran a character-moulding initiative that addressed substance abuse.
Mr Ramaotwana explained that the existing programme was designed to educate inmates on the dangers of substance abuse, addiction and dependency.
“It empowers inmates with knowledge of different types of substances and helps them develop coping mechanisms to resist temptation and avoid relapse,” he said.
Mr Ramaotwana also said that while a dedicated rehabilitation programme was not yet in place, inmates showing drug withdrawal symptoms received medical attention, adding that each prison had a sick bay or clinic staffed with medical doctors and nurses who attended to inmates’ health needs.
“Where specialist intervention is required, inmates are referred to government medical facilities,” he said.
Molepolole North Member of Parliament, Mr Arafat Khan, had asked the minister if there were any plans to introduce drug and rehabilitation programme at Molepolole Prison, because a number of crimes committed by inmates are drug related or influenced.
MP Khan argued that introducing a formal rehabilitation programme would not only aid the rehabilitation of offenders but also strengthen the fight against drug abuse in Molepolole.
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