Murder cases rise over the holidays
Pini Bothoko | Monday October 9, 2023 06:00
In a media statement released yesterday, the police stated that their preliminary investigations have revealed that most of the murder cases were a result of misunderstandings whilst a few were random attacks of victims by perpetrators.
The Botswana Police Service (BPS)’s public relations officer, Superintendent Selinah Omphile pleaded with members of the public to always find amicable ways of resolving issues.
The police also warned members of the public against carrying dangerous weapons that can lead to the commission of murder and to seek counselling during challenging times or when in trouble to avoid settling disputes through violence. Omphile further stated that they recorded 11 suicides and six road fatalities compared to 10 suicides cases and nine road fatalities respectively recorded during the same period last year.
She also stated that a total of 6,874 traffic violations were registered these past holidays compared to 5,018 recorded the same period last year thus representing a 37% increase. “Even though a reduction of six fatalities was noted, the causes remain the same amongst which are speeding, drunken driving and driving without a driver’s licence.
This, therefore calls for serious self-introspection and mindset change by motorists,” she said. Moreover, she stated that they recorded 223 cases of drunken driving during this year's Independence holidays, an increase from last year's 159 cases. She added that these holidays they recorded 1,694 cases of over speeding compared to 1,197 cases during the same period last year. “Seven hundred and seventy-two cases of people driving without a driver’s licence were recorded these holidays as compared to 610 cases recorded the same period last year. One hundred and fourteen cases of careless driving were also recorded even though we saw a slight decline as compared to 131 cases last year. We also continue see people who commit traffic lights offences. Even though the numbers have slightly decreased, this offence remains a concern as we have recorded 136 cases as compared to 159 during the same period last year,” Omphile said.
Moreover, Omphile raised concern about people who continue to fail to put on their seat belts. As such she disclosed to have recorded 516 cases compared to 438 offences during the same period last year.
The police have in the past expressed concern at the upsurge in fights that occur as a result of petty issues which can easily be resolved that always lead to deaths as a clear indication that people no longer value the sanctity of human life. Most of these petty issues have been identified as arguments during beer drinking, fights over money and arguments of partners in love relationships.
Furthermore, it has since been established that in most of these fights, knives are used and the police have since urged members of the public to leave knives out of disputes as efforts to tackle knife crimes remain a challenge. They (police) have also established that knife crimes particularly among the youth especially young men, is worsened by alcohol intake and when doing their regular stop, question and search patrols, they always find them in possession of knives and other objects which are usually used as weapons whenever there is an argument. Mostly, men stab each other or their lovers in love relationship disputes.