Women officers from across Police District No 5 took center stage over the weekend as they conducted a coordinated crime prevention operation in Maun, demonstrating the increasingly prominent role women are playing in law enforcement across Botswana.
The operation, conducted under the Women in Network campaign, brought together female officers from Maun Police Station, Sehithwa Police Station, Maun Airport Police, and other policing units within District 5. The initiative sought not only to combat crime but also to showcase the capabilities of women serving in the Botswana Police Service (BPS).
Acting Maun Station Commander, Assistant Superintendent Moutlwatsi Ikobeng, said the operation was carried out from Friday through Saturday and resulted in the detection of numerous offences.
“We recorded approximately 25 cases involving motorists driving without licences and around 15 cases of individuals selling alcohol without the required licences,” Ikobeng said.
He explained that the campaign was designed to challenge long-standing perceptions that certain policing roles are better suited to men.
“The initiative is aimed at empowering women within the police service and dispelling the stigma that women cannot perform certain duties or occupations. Policing is not only about physical strength. It also requires intelligence, professionalism and effective investigative skills,” he said.
The campaign comes at a time when women are increasingly becoming a dominant force within the Botswana Police Service.
According to the Botswana Police Service 2025 Annual Report, women now constitute the overwhelming majority of newly trained police officers entering the force. Of the 873 recruit constables who completed pre-service training and graduated in December 2025, 757 were women, representing 86.7 percent of the graduating class, while only 116 were men.
The graduates underwent an accredited training programme jointly certified by the Botswana Qualifications Authority and the University of Portsmouth, combining academic instruction, physical training and field attachments to prepare them for operational policing duties.
The growing number of female officers aligns with broader developments within the service, which is currently led by Commissioner Dinah Marathe. Under her leadership, the BPS has increasingly emphasized community-oriented policing, public trust and victim-centred service delivery.
Sehithwa Police Station Commander Molly Lebala-Moduke, who participated in the weekend operation, said the campaign demonstrated the strength and unity of women within the service.
She encouraged young women and girls interested in law enforcement careers to consider joining the police force.
“This initiative shows that women are capable of contributing meaningfully to policing and public safety. We are united as women in the service, and we welcome opportunities that make our presence visible and encourage others to join,” she said.
The increasing representation of women within the BPS is also expected to strengthen specialised policing functions, particularly in areas involving vulnerable victims. The service has expanded child-friendly policing initiatives and gender-based violence interventions, which often require officers trained to handle sensitive cases with empathy and professionalism.
The influx of female officers also comes at a critical time for the organisation. Despite recent recruitment successes, the Botswana Police Service continues to face staffing challenges, with a reported shortage of 639 sworn personnel nationwide.
As crime evolves to include sophisticated cybercrime, drug trafficking and other transnational offences, police leadership faces the challenge of ensuring that the growing number of female officers are equipped with advanced skills and specialised training.
For officers who participated in the Women in Network campaign, however, the weekend operation served as a practical demonstration that women are already making significant contributions on the front lines of Botswana’s fight against crime.
Their visibility in patrols, enforcement operations and community engagement efforts signals a changing face of policing in Botswana—one increasingly shaped by women.
