Botswana registered modest reductions in selected serious crimes over the 2025 festive season, but sharp increases in gender-based violence, cybercrime and traffic violations highlighted the shifting nature of criminal activity under Operation Pabalesego II.
Presenting national crime figures for the period 18 December 2025 to 4 January 2026, Botswana Police Service (BPS) Commissioner Dinah Marathe said murder cases declined slightly from 24 to 23, while armed robbery fell by 56 percent from 27 to 12 cases. Theft of motor vehicles also dropped by 40 percent.
However, crimes affecting women and children rose sharply. Rape cases increased by 35 percent from 72 to 97, while defilement surged by 50 percent from 24 to 36. Serious assaults remained largely unchanged.
“Gender-based violence remains a major concern, especially during school holidays when children are often left without proper guardianship,” Marathe said, noting that cases typically decline once schools reopen.
Drug-related crime also featured prominently, with police intercepting approximately 200 kilograms of marijuana, raising concerns about organised distribution networks. Marathe said police continue to struggle to apprehend dealers in harder drugs such as cocaine and methcathinone, urging the public to share information.
Cybercrime emerged as one of the fastest-growing threats, with victims estimated to have lost close to P1 million in December alone through schemes including fraudulent Know Your Customer processes. Property crime showed mixed trends, with house breaking and theft rising by 40 percent, while stock theft increased by 22 percent.
Police also recorded an increase in missing persons, many involving minors, with links to defilement and substance abuse.
On road safety, total accidents declined slightly from 659 to 631, and fatal accidents dropped by 36 percent. Despite this, fatalities rose from 29 to 31. Traffic offences reflected risky behaviour, with mobile phone use while driving increasing by 142 percent, failure to obey traffic lights by 70 percent, failure to wear seatbelts by 30 percent and drunk-driving by 21 percent.
Marathe attributed some positive trends to Operation Pabalesego II, launched in November and concluded on 6 January, involving intensified patrols, roadblocks and community engagement nationwide.
At regional level, District No.5 — covering Gweta, Maun, Maun Airport and Sehithwa — reported declines in several crime categories. District Traffic Officer Superintendent Oathusa Tshotego said house break-ins fell by 23 percent, stock theft by 33 percent, rape by 25 percent and obtaining by false pretenses by 34 percent between 2024 and 2025.
Serious traffic cases reduced from five to three, while fatal traffic offences dropped from four to two, although fatalities remained unchanged at four.
However, murder cases increased from one to five, while traffic violations surged. Overspeeding rose by 54 percent and driving without a licence by nearly 76 percent. Tshotego said education formed a key pillar of the operation, with police advising motorists on road safety and businesses on secure cash handling, while Maun Station Commander Superintendent Joseph Lepodise reported detections involving drugs, stock theft and illegal alcohol outlets.
The festive-season operation unfolded against a broader three-year traffic picture showing declining fatalities but rising accidents. In 2023, Botswana recorded 15,331 crashes and 396 deaths. Accidents rose to 16,722 in 2024, yet fatalities dropped by 12.6 percent to 346, attributed to strengthened enforcement and faster emergency response.
Figures from the Motor Vehicle Accident Fund show a further decline to 327 fatalities in 2025.
The South Central Division consistently recorded the highest number of crashes, while the North Central Division remained a concern due to a higher proportion of fatal accidents linked to long-distance travel and speeding. The North West Division, including Ngamiland, emerged as statistically the safest region in 2024.
However, January to September 2025 data revealed renewed pressure, with national road deaths increasing by 9.4 percent, and the Maun policing area recording the steepest rise. Men accounted for 72 percent of fatalities.
While Botswana has achieved measurable reductions in road deaths since 2023, rising violations, seasonal spikes and regional disparities underline the fragile nature of these gains, reinforcing the need for sustained enforcement, community cooperation and behavioural change beyond Operation Pabalesego II.
