Squabbles, alcohol drive murder rate – Ramakorwane
Pini Bothoko | Tuesday February 27, 2024 06:00
Acting Police Commissioner, Phemelo Ramakorwane, revealed there has been a rise in murders, with many linked to intimate relationships and public alcohol consumption.
Addressed the media at the official closing of the 50th Botswana Police Senior Officers Annual Conference recently, he stated: “We seem to be living in an angry society which no longer values the sanctity of life, choosing to kill whenever it suits them. We continue to record murder cases that started as something that could have been resolved verbally.' 'If one mistakenly steps on someone's toes at the bar, they get angry as if they've committed a major offence and it can escalate to a point where they end up stabbing (harming) you, and later, they regret their actions.
This illustrates that our society is frustrated, and people struggle to manage their emotions,' he added. While overall crime decreased by eight percent (from 173,140 cases recorded in 2022 to 159,680 in 2021), murder cases increased by four percent. The conference resolved to focus on gender based violence (GBV) cases, which often lead to murder. Ramakorwane urged the public to control emotions, citing that minor triggers lead to lethal outcomes. He called on couples to seek help and involve third parties in resolving misunderstandings to prevent disputes that result in murder.
The conference also decided to enhance collaboration efforts with stakeholders for youth crime prevention and to strengthen community-based crime prevention interventions. The ongoing trend of women being killed by their partners indicates societal anger, pundits have said. Regular stories in the media report cases where misunderstandings lead to deadly outcomes, often perpetrated by men. Additionally, family disputes that were once resolved verbally now escalate into killings, reflecting a breakdown in societal dialogue. A recent incident involved a 26-year-old man killing his aunt, granny, and committing suicide following a dispute in Matholojane cattle post near Kanye. This tragic event highlights the breakdown in communication and mutual understanding.