16 May 2024

Monarch West residents in Francistown have been encouraged to adopt a proactive stance to fight crime in their area.

Addressing a kgotla meeting, Francistown West Member of Parliament, Mr Ignatius Moswaane agreed with residents that indeed the high crime rate in his constituency was high.

Earlier on, residents decried the high crime rate in their area, and the root cause being drug addiction by the youth.

They also indicated that  those addicted tend to steal to support their habit.

Mr Moswaane therefore, emphasised that the solution to the problem was community policing, adding that there was need for the community to join forces with the police to address the problem.

He further told residents to stop from buying stolen property as it encouraged crime.

He urged parents to desist from protecting their delinquent children knowing very well that they were into drugs and stealing from other people.

He said rather, they should normalise seeking help by reporting these children to the right authority.

Furthermore, Mr Moswaane encouraged residents to work for themselves so as to be  independent and have some form of investment.

“If you happen to have a farm, invest in it so that you could provide for yourself”, he said.

The Ward Development Committee chairperson, Ms Osenyegile Odirile highlighted that criminals mostly targeted government property, as they were commonly known to house assets.

She encouraged the community to normalise reporting crime and any illegal activities within their constituency, thus ensuring a safer environment.

A resident of Monarch, Mr Kopano John requested that police and soldiers patrols be brought back and that the cameras in the Monarch area be increased, as there were only two.

Addressing the requests, Assistant Superintendent Itumeleng Mochela of Francistown Central Police Station said they were under staffed as some officers have gone for further training. He advised residents to revive  neighbourhood watches and assist the police with combatting crime.

On the increase of cameras in the Monarch area, he said surveys were being done and hopefully the location would be amongst those that would be covered. ENDS