Why Botswana is becoming drugs haven
The legal frame work and judicial leniency are perhaps the major cause of rising incidences of drug dealing and possession in Botswana, Deputy Commanding Officer responsible for Narcotics, Fauna and Flora Investigations, Albert Morapedi has revealed.
Botswana, completely landlocked by four countries South Africa, Zimbabwe, Namibia, and slightly by Angola is faced with a saddling experience of having to deal with drugs coming in from all fronts.
“Our investigations indicate that drugs don’t come from Botswana, but from other countries,” he said.
The Botswana Police Service has seen a staggering rise in the number of hard drugs, which are considered more dangerous, compared to soft drugs. Hard drugs include cocaine, nicotine and cat among others which have been discovered by the police in Botswana.
Of all the drugs in general, marijuana remains the most common. In 2014, 2015 and 2016, between periods of January to July, there were 295, 339 and 394 cases of marijuana alone as compared to 5, 18, 27 cases of hard drugs in the same period respectively.
The largest consumers of these drugs are youth, with those belonging to age groups of 18-39 being major participants in the business. According to Morapedi there are rare cases involving primary school kids and recently involving a 52 year old man.
While the rise in drugs cases are a cause for concern, Morapedi also highlighted that for the police, it is a good sign as it shows that they are now able to detect drugs better than they used to.
“Unlike in other crimes where we want the cases to go down, in drug cases we want the detection rate to go high to uproot the harm which they are causing especially to the young people,” he said.
From statistics, it is apparent that pupils at secondary schools are the major victims of drug dealing in Botswana which leads to compromised health, aggressive behaviour and poor performance in schools.
Legal frame work and repercussions
Unlike in other countries, drug dealing and possession in Botswana does not carry hefty penalties and worse of all, the judiciary appears to be lenient by letting suspects off the hook with paltry bail amounts.
According to the Drug and Related Substance Act of 1992, a person can only be sentenced to a maximum of 15 years for dealing or possession.
The Act further states that: “Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any written law, any Magistrate Grade I, Senior Magistrate or Principal Magistrate shall have special jurisdiction to impose any penalties provided in this Act for any contravention of the provisions of this Part, or any regulations made under this Act relating to this Part, or to exercise any of the powers provided therein in respect of such contraventions.”
Morapedi said this is a big challenge because the law does not act as deterrence. The Deputy Commanding Officer also contended that the law also gives drug dealers who are released on bail the opportunity to continue with the illegal dealing.
“Our aim is to make clean the country and destroy network of drug dealing syndicates,” he said. “Personally I believe drug dealing syndicates should not be released on bail, they should remain in custody so that the network is destroyed,” he said.
Judiciary leniency on drug dealers
However, Morapedi said that although releasing of suspects on bail is defeating the whole purpose of striving for drug free communities, the police will not be discouraged by that.
Morapedi stated that there are four cases in which serial offenders have been granted bail.
“Judges and Magistrates are independent and sometimes use their discretion in making rulings on whether to release the accused on bail or not, but sadly most of time they succeed in getting bail,” he said.
Morapedi quipped that the review of Drugs and Substance Abuse Act, which is underway, will address some of the concerns raised by the stakeholders.
Penalties for drug dealing and possession vary depending on the quantity the accused is found in possession or is dealing with. The penalties range from three years imprisonment to 15 years or P1000 to 15 000 in fines or a combination of both.
Where do the drugs come from?
Although Morapedi could not reveal to this publication the most common area for origination of drugs to Botswana, this publication’s investigations revealed that Swazi nationals as per recent court appearances lead the number of foreign offenders, mostly dealing jointly with locals.
Drug dealers have been able to penetrate the country, with some drugs passing through the country in destinations outside the country, including from South Africa to Zambia, and other neighbouring countries.
“Drug dealers are using all tactics to bring them to Botswana, including using un-gazetted areas to get them inside the country,” he said.
Recently the Police were able, in a rare case to arrest drug syndicates in possession of drugs weighing from 1kg -102 kg, something which Morapedi said was a breakthrough because they were arrested before distribution.
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Nigerians, Zimbabweans apply for Chema Chema Fund
Fronting activities, where locals are used as a front for foreign-owned businesses, have been a long-standing issue in Botswana. These activities not only undermine the government’s efforts to promote local businesses but also deprive Batswana of opportunities for economic empowerment, officials say. The Ministry of Trade and Industry has warned of heavy penalties for those involved in fronting activities especially in relation to the latest popular government initiative dubbed Chema Chema.
According to the Ministry, the Industrial Development Act of 2019 clearly outlines the consequences of engaging in fronting activities. The fines of up to P50,000 for first-time offenders and P20,000 plus a two-year jail term for repeat offenders send a strong message that the government is serious about cracking down on this illegal practice. These penalties are meant to deter individuals from participating in fronting activities and to protect the integrity of local industries.
“It is disheartening to hear reports of collaboration between foreigners and locals to exploit government initiatives such as the Chema Chema Fund. This fund, administered by CEDA and LEA, is meant to support informal traders and low-income earners in Botswana. However, when fronting activities come into play, the intended beneficiaries are sidelined, and the funds are misused for personal gain.” It has been discovered that foreign nationals predominantly of Zimbabwean and Nigerian origin use unsuspecting Batswana to attempt to access the Chema Chema Fund. It is understood that they approach these Batswana under the guise of drafting business plans for them or simply coming up with ‘bankable business ideas that qualify for Chema Chema.’
Observers say the Chema Chema Fund has the potential to uplift the lives of many Batswana who are struggling to make ends meet. They argue that it is crucial that these funds are used for their intended purpose and not siphoned off through illegal activities such as fronting. The Ministry says the warning it issued serves as a reminder to all stakeholders involved in the administration of these funds to ensure transparency and accountability in their disbursement.
One local commentator said it is important to highlight the impact of fronting activities on the local economy and the livelihoods of Batswana. He said by using locals as a front for foreign-owned businesses, opportunities for local entrepreneurs are stifled, and the economic empowerment of Batswana is hindered. The Ministry’s warning of heavy penalties is a call to action for all stakeholders to work together to eliminate fronting activities and promote a level playing field for local businesses.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Trade and Industry’s warning of heavy penalties for fronting activities is a necessary step to protect the integrity of local industries and promote economic empowerment for Batswana. “It is imperative that all stakeholders comply with regulations and work towards a transparent and accountable business environment. By upholding the law and cracking down on illegal activities, we can ensure a fair and prosperous future for all Batswana.”
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Merck Foundation and African First Ladies mark World Health Day 2024
Merck Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany marks “World Health Day” 2024 together with Africa’s First Ladies who are also Ambassadors of MerckFoundation “More Than a Mother” Campaign through their Scholarship and Capacity Building Program. Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation emphasized, “At Merck Foundation, we mark World Health Day every single day of the year over the past 12 years, by building healthcare capacity and transforming patient care across Africa, Asia and beyond.
I am proud to share that Merck Foundation has provided over 1740 scholarships to aspiring young doctors from 52 countries, in 44 critical and underserved medical specialties such as Oncology, Diabetes, Preventative Cardiovascular Medicine, Endocrinology, Sexual and Reproductive Medicine, Acute Medicine, Respiratory Medicine, Embryology & Fertility specialty, Gastroenterology, Dermatology, Psychiatry, Emergency and Resuscitation Medicine, Critical Care, Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Neonatal Medicine, Advanced Surgical Practice, Pain Management, General Surgery, Clinical Microbiology and infectious diseases, Internal Medicine, Trauma & Orthopedics, Neurosurgery, Neurology, Cardiology, Stroke Medicine, Care of the Older Person, Family Medicine, Pediatrics and Child Health, Obesity & Weight Management, Women’s Health, Biotechnology in ART and many more”.
As per the available data, Africa has only 34.6% of the required doctors, nurses, and midwives. It is projected that by 2030, Africa would need additional 6.1 million doctors, nurses, and midwives*. “For Example, before the start of the Merck Foundation programs in 2012; there was not a single Oncologist, Fertility or Reproductive care specialists, Diabetologist, Respiratory or ICU specialist in many countries such as The Gambia, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Central African Republic, Guinea, Burundi, Niger, Chad, Ethiopia, Namibia among others. We are certainly creating historic legacy in Africa, and also beyond. Together with our partners like Africa’s First Ladies, Ministries of Health, Gender, Education and Communication, we are impacting the lives of people in the most disadvantaged communities in Africa and beyond.”, added Senator Dr. Kelej. Merck Foundation works closely with their Ambassadors, the African First Ladies and local partners such as; Ministries of Health, Education, Information & Communication, Gender, Academia, Research Institutions, Media and Art in building healthcare capacity and addressing health, social & economic challenges in developing countries and under-served communities. “I strongly believe that training healthcare providers and building professional healthcare capacity is the right strategy to improve access to equitable and quality at health care in Africa.
Therefore, I am happy to announce the Call for Applications for 2024 Scholarships for young doctors with special focus on female doctors for our online one-year diploma and two year master degree in 44 critical and underserved medical specialties, which includes both Online Diploma programs and On-Site Fellowship and clinical training programs. The applications are invited through the Office of our Ambassadors and long-term partners, The First Ladies of Africa and Ministry of Health of each country.” shared Dr . Kelej. “Our aim is to improve the overall health and wellbeing of people by building healthcare capacity across Africa, Asia and other developing countries. We are strongly committed to transforming patientcare landscape through our scholarships program”, concluded Senator Kelej.
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Interpol fugitive escapes from Botswana
John Isaak Ndovi, a Tanzanian national embroiled in controversy and pursued under a red notice by the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol), has mysteriously vanished, bypassing a scheduled bail hearing at the Extension 2 Magistrate Court in Gaborone. Previously apprehended by Botswana law enforcement at the Tlokweng border post several months earlier, his escape has ignited serious concerns.
Accused of pilfering assets worth in excess of P1 million, an amount translating to roughly 30,000 Omani Riyals, Ndovi has become a figure of paramount interest, especially to the authorities in the Sultanate of Oman, nestled in the far reaches of Asia.
The unsettling news of his disappearance surfaced following his failure to present himself at the Extension 2 Magistrate Court the preceding week. Speculation abounds that Ndovi may have sought refuge in South Africa in a bid to elude capture, prompting a widespread mobilization of law enforcement agencies to ascertain his current location.
In an official communiqué, Detective Senior Assistant Police Commissioner Selebatso Mokgosi of Interpol Gaborone disclosed Ndovi’s apprehension last September at the Tlokweng border, a capture made possible through the vigilant issuance of the Interpol red notice.
At 36, Ndovi is implicated in a case of alleged home invasion in Oman. Despite the non-existence of an extradition treaty between Botswana and Oman, Nomsa Moatswi, the Director of the Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP), emphasized that the lack of formal extradition agreements does not hinder her office’s ability to entertain extradition requests. She highlighted the adoption of international cooperation norms, advocating for collaboration through the lenses of international comity and reciprocity.
Moatswi disclosed the intensified effort by law enforcement to locate Ndovi following his no-show in court, and pointed to Botswana’s track record of extraditing two international fugitives from France and Zimbabwe in the previous year as evidence of the country’s relentless pursuit of legal integrity.
When probed about the potential implications of Ndovi’s case on Botswana’s forthcoming evaluation by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), Moatswi reserved her speculations. She acknowledged the criticality of steering clear of blacklisting, suggesting that this singular case is unlikely to feature prominently in the FATF’s assessment criteria.