On November 14th, President Duma Boko officially launched Operation Pabalesego II under the theme “A Crime-Free Festive Season and Beyond.” Operation Pabalesego II is spearheaded the Botswana Police Service and Botswana Defence Force alongside other security agencies.
The operation was also simultaneously launched across the five police region in the country being Maun, Francistown, Palapye, Lobatse and Mogoditshane.
Having started in 2024, the operation was prompted by the pressing and collective need to minimise the risk and curb the significant crime, social ills and road carnage that are characterised this period.
The operation brings together all security agencies under one coordinated effort to enhance community protection, strengthen public engagement and ensure collective responsibility in preventing crime, violence and road carnage during the festive period.
Police Commissioner Dinah Marathe noted that the commencement of the operation does not only signify the start of an important session but also their shared commitment to ensuring that this festive period is celebrated safely, peacefully and joyfully.
She said the theme may seen to be an ambitious target but it is achievable through collective commitment, vigilance and unity of purpose.
“The festive season is highly interactive and busy period charactarised by a myriad of activities including long travels, social entertainment, religious festivities, and family celebrations. We have also over the years observed a recurring trend of increased incidents of certain crimes especially those bearing violence during this period.”
Marathe urged all to exercise responsibility and restraint as well as invite God’s mercy, protection and guidance throughout this period and beyond.
She indicated that the motivation factor is that the operation conducted in 2024 was a success having realised a 9.8% reduction of general crime as compared to the same period in 2023.
Sharing on the country’s prevailing security situation, Marathe revealed that an analysis of targeted crime being break-inns, robbery, murder, rape, defilement, murder, threat to kill, stock theft and theft of motor vehicle for the nine months covering the period of January to September 2025 demonstrates a 5% reduction when compared to the same period last year.
“However, there are certain crimes within this category that have realised some growth notably theft of motor vehicle has increased by 15%, defilement 11% and murder by 3%.”
She noted that the increase in murder is consistent with the harrowing level of violence observed in the commission of violent crimes. “These murders mostly arise from social and intimate misunderstandings with sharp instruments mostly knives used in committing these crimes,” said the commissioner noting that the detection of these cases remains very high.
Marathe also noted that gender-based violence and drug abuse have translated into issues of national concern. She added that these social ills contribute or fuel the perpetuation of violent crimes with some of them resulting in human lives losses or permanent disfigurement
“Drug abuse is prevalent among the youth and middle age bracket with dagga standing out as the most abused drug followed by meth cathinone and cocaine. The country has experienced a significant increase in drug cases this year as compared to the preceding year 2024. During the period January to October, 992 drug related cases were detected as compared to a total of 845 cases reported during the entire 2024.”
Intelligence suggests the involvement of highly organised criminal syndicates comprising both local and foreign nationals in the perpetuation of this crime. “The rise in drug cases reflects good performance associated with heightened law enforcement and intelligence shared with between the police and other law enforcement agencies.”
She added that motor vehicle theft is also on the rise especially the honda fit model and mazda demios leaving through ungazetted point of entries to other neighbouring countries.
The commissioner added that they continue to experience a growing wave of cyber crimes noting that cyber bullying and online harassment have become serious threats to personal safety with victims especially young people facing emotional and physiological harm.
“Increasingly cyber criminals are exploiting stolen identities and personal data obtained through malware and bridged data basis to commit financial and reputational fraud. Social facilitated scams whereby unsuspecting individuals are deceived into transferring funds through mobile platforms and sharing confidential information remain the most reported cyber incidents.”
