Over the years, Police Day has been struggling to draw large crowds that BDF Day seems to do so with ease, but this year has proven men and women in blue to be just as capable of attracting the masses. The police celebration managed to entertain the crowd throughout the event. When The Monitor team arrived at the National Stadium at around 6am, multitudes of patrons had already made their way into the stands with a majority still walking into the stadium. At around 7:30am, about 80% of the seats were already occupied making this year’s event a more popular display. With performances from ‘Tlhoma ka Serethe’ hitmaker, Monnamogolo wa Thulaganyo and pop sensation, Han C, the event left the audience mesmerised.
For some reason, the different activities often associated with the day never seem to grow old for the fans, who just can't get enough of the variety of entertainment dished out by law enforcement personnel. Some displays make a comeback every year for the celebrations and the acts remain a hit for both the young and the old. For instance, the K9 display, fire acrobatics, callisthenics, and police clowns will remain some of the fans' favourites and the main ingredient in spicing up the gracious event. The usual activities such as athletics and the 4-by-4 relay of BPS women's and men's teams from police divisions, also spiced up the day. In the end, Police Headquarters, the host's women's and men's relay teams, scoped position one respectively.
President Mokgweetsi Masisi graced the police’s 140th anniversary accompanied by First Lady Neo Masisi as he started by inspecting the ceremonial parade mounted by members of the BPS. The event was decorated with a colourful parade comprising various units that mesmerised spectators throughout the event. Held under the theme ‘Towards Safer and Secure Communities by 2036', the service dates back to 1884, the time when 100 men were assembled by the British to form Bechuanaland Mounted Police. Today’s police service has evolved from three infant forces, namely the Bechuanaland Mounted Police in 1884, the Bechuanaland Border Police in 1885, and the Bechuanaland Protectorate Police in 1902.
Eventually, it was renamed Botswana Police Force in 1966 and rebranded Botswana Police Service in 1997. On the sideline of the event, BPS’ spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Dipheko Motube said the first celebration of this nature was back in October 1990 and they have been celebrating this day for 34 years even though the service has been in existence for 140 years. He added they celebrate the day to look back at the service’s achievements and growth in terms of human capital (the skills acquired thus far) and capital resources (transport and communication). “In 1884 we started with [the enlistment of] 500 men.
We were using horses as the only mode of transport at the time when we were called Bechuanaland Mounted Police because of the mounted mode of transport then, but we have since grown and later introduced women officers,” Motube explained. “BDF, DCEC (Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime), DIS (Directorate of Intelligence and Security), Civil Aviation, and Immigration to mention but a few come from us and this shows growth,” he added. Moreover, Motube further stated that the service has achieved a lot in terms of combatting crime and protecting the nation over the years and they are still committed to doing more in the future.
