Kazungula Police have revealed that a total of 47 cross border crime cases were recorded over the just ended festive season, from the 18th December 2024 to the 5th January 2025.The number he said, shows a significant increase when compared to the 28 cases recorded in the previous festive season.
In an interview, Kazungula Police Station Commander Superintendent Peter Masole said that in 2024 they recorded three cases of aiding and illegal entry of immigrants while in 2023 they did not record any case. He revealed that in 2024 they recorded 18 cases of overstaying in Botswana against the 10 that had been registered during the previous festive season.
Masole said that they registered two cases of entering the country through gazetted entry points for both 2023 and 2024 respectively, indicating in 2024 they recorded eight cases of unlawful remaining in Botswana while in 2023 they had recorded two.
According to him, 14 cases of failure to present oneself for immigration were recorded in 2024 as compared to 12 registered in 2023. Masole has further stated that one case of forgery was recorded in 2024 while in 2023 they did not register such a case. He mentioned that they recorded one case of working in Botswana without permit in 2024 while in 2023 they did not register the said offence.
Masole has expressed that most of the offenders associated with the cross border crimes were Zambian and Zimbabwean nationals. He revealed that the cases have been handled by the court and the offenders have since been charged. Masole stated that the offenders were charged amounts ranging from P1000 to P5000 for different offenses that occurred.
“In order to prevent cross border crimes, we have collaborated with officials from neighbouring countries (Zambia, Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe) and other stakeholders such as BDF, Department of Immigration and BURS,” he said.
Masole has noted that through the Operation Pabalesego, a joint festive season operation by Botswana Defence Force and Botswana Police that was launched by President Duma Boko towards festive season, officers were deployed in different areas to maintain law and order, adding that initiative has brought positive results in his policing area.
