Botswana: Ambassador-designate to Brazil, Benetia Chingapane, paid a courtesy call to the Botswana Police Service at Police Headquarters on Tuesday.
The Acting Commissioner of Police, Solomon Mantswe, has acknowledged that the Botswana Police Service (BPS) and the Federal Police of Brazil continue to enjoy cordial working relations as members of the International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL).
He said through INTERPOL, the two Police organisations have contributed to global peace and security by exploiting the use of Interpol tools such as the INTERPOL 24/7 Communication Network and sharing Intelligence information.
The Acting Commissioner further informed Ambassador Chingapane that the Botswana Police Service and the Federal Police of Brazil have, in the past, made collaborative efforts to discuss issues of leadership development, Forensic Science Investigations and Traffic Law Enforcement.
Mantswe also noted that Botswana has trained numerous officers from the Federal Police of Brazil through the International Law Enforcement Academy (ILEA) Gaborone.
When giving reciprocal remarks, Chingapane commended the BPS for its resilience and hard work in policing the country. She said over the years, the BPS has played an important role in protecting the country’s territorial integrity.
Furthermore, she called on the BPS to benchmark and learn from other police organisations with regard to the latest policing technology.
As the new Ambassador for Botswana to Brazil, she pledged to work towards strengthening bilateral relations between BPS and the Federal Police of Brazil, adding that BPS should take advantage of her office to reach out to their Brazilian counterparts.
Two days back, on Saturday, she made her visit to the Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources, where she made some of the important announcements regarding building international partnerships.
During the visit, discussions centred around BUAN’s progress, academic programmes, and research initiatives. Notably, collaborations with Sao Paulo University in bioeconomy research were highlighted, showcasing BUAN’s commitment to global excellence.
Benetia Chingapane recently, on 15 March 2023, became the ambassador to Brazil.