… The Botswana Police Service continues to document high rates of offences tied to GBV, including murder, rape, child defilement, and violence against children, crimes that often go hand in hand with deep social fractures. …
… The Botswana Police Service (BPS) has firmly rejected claims that the unit has been suspended, affirming that it remains fully operational in the country’s two largest cities amid growing speculation about its future. …
… The tribute was fitting for a man who dedicated 39 years of service to national law enforcement, became Botswana’s first Motswana Police Commissioner and spent a record 24 years at the helm of the Botswana Police Service (BPS). …
BONGANI MALUNGA The Botswana Police Service has issued a stern warning against the spread of fake news and misinformation on social media, cautioning that those who create or share false information could face criminal prosecution. …
With the Department of Veterinary Services and support services such as Botswana Police Service and the Botswana Defence Force, stretched thin across the vast zone, mephato at the village level have taken the frontline of not only defending the border, but also marshalling farmer …
… Mr Mohwasa noted that the Botswana Police Service was an integral part of society and therefore there was need to provide a conducive working environment and accommodation for the officers to enhance service delivery. …
… Members of the Botswana Defence Force, Botswana Police Service, and tribal leaders coordinated meticulously to ensure that every detail, from security to ceremonial arrangements, was in order. …
In his public address, Mhwasa confirmed that the investigative phase led by the Botswana Police Service has been completed and that all findings have now been handed over for legal review. …
… The release advises that members of the public and farmers are also urged to report any suspicious signs of FMD such as lameness and excessive salivation to the nearest Department of Veterinary Services or Botswana Police Service offices. …
Botswana recorded more than 7,500 gender-based violence cases in the first quarter of 2026, according to the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Youth and Gender Affairs. Of the 7,517 cases logged from January to March, 2,228 were classified as gender-based violence incidents, with 520 rape cases and 487 defilement cases reported.
Why it matters
Over 7,500 gender-based violence cases in Q1 2026 signal an escalating crisis affecting public safety and household welfare across the country.
Botswana recorded more than 7,500 gender-based violence cases in the first quarter of 2026, according to the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Youth and Gender Affairs. Of the 7,517 cases logged from January to March, 2,228 were classified as gender-based violence incidents, with 520 rape cases and 487 defilement cases reported.
The Botswana Police Service has rejected claims that the City Police Unit (CPU), launched in December 2023, has been suspended, though sources say the government has quietly scaled back the initiative since the UDC took office in 2024, citing resource shortages and a reported shift toward the Safer City Project.
Simon Hirschfeld, Botswana's first Motswana Police Commissioner who served 39 years in law enforcement and spent 24 years leading the Botswana Police Service, was buried at Phomolong Memorial Park in Gaborone with a traditional police funeral ceremony.
The Botswana Police Service has warned against the spread of fake news and misinformation on social media, cautioning that those who create or share false information could face criminal prosecution.
Justice Minister Nelson Ramaotwana has yet to decide whether to extradite six Mexican fugitives arrested nearly six months ago to Mozambique, where they face drug-related and organized crime charges. The delay reflects broader regional concerns over cross-border drug trafficking and organized crime networks operating in Botswana.
Mephato (community patrols) at the village level are taking a frontline role in fighting foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) alongside the Department of Veterinary Services, marshalling farmers to participate in vaccination activities. Mophato wa Mabeleakgomo from Mokatako and Molete villages, formed in 2023 by villagers led by Kgosi Omphitlhetse Manyeneng, have committed to protecting their territory.
Minister for State President, Defence and Security Moeti Mohwasa has called on the private sector to collaborate with the government on its development agenda, citing budgetary constraints that prevent the government from managing service delivery alone. He commended companies like Dulux Botswana for their corporate social responsibility efforts, specifically highlighting the Ikageng Public Works Programme renovation of Jwaneng police station.
Serowe residents cleaned and repaired the village ahead of body viewing ceremonies for the late former president at the main Kgotla, with security and ceremonial arrangements coordinated by the Botswana Defence Force, Botswana Police Service, and tribal leaders. Kgosi Bakae Khumo said the community is working with the family to give Mogae the respect and dignity he deserves.
The Botswana Police Service has completed its investigation into the Tshedu case and transferred findings to the Director of Public Prosecutions for legal review to determine criminal liability. The DPP is expected to provide feedback by mid-May on whether the evidence meets the threshold for prosecution.
The European Union has suspended beef imports from Botswana's larger foot and mouth disease (FMD) free zones following an FMD outbreak in Zone 11. The World Organisation for Animal Health also suspended the FMD free status of the affected zone, and disease surveillance has detected FMD in three additional crushes, prompting movement bans and vaccination efforts.