 Botswana Section gathered in Gaborone for a two-day meeting){kind=link}
Botswana, South Africa: The International Police Association (IPA) Botswana Section gathered in Gaborone for a two-day meeting to introspect on its performance and administrative issues, as well as elect new executive committee members.
Speaking at the occasion on behalf of the Acting Commissioner of Police on Friday (28/04/2023), the Director of Operations, Senior Assistant Commissioner Katlholo Mosimanegape, said IPA offers opportunities for professional development and cultural exchange to its members.
Further, he asserted by saying the Association gives members time to network and share ideas of cooperation as well as participation in crime reduction operations and social responsibility activities.
Director of Operations Mosimanegape urged members to continue sharing the skills attained through the programmes offered by the Association to help curb crime and build safer nations.
When giving welcome remarks, the 1st Vice President of IPA- Botswana, responsible for Administration, Assistant Commissioner Emmanuel Morris, said police officers are faced with unique challenges in the line of duty.
He also said they encounter organisational and operational stressors, which make them vulnerable to compassion fatigue, moral injuries and burnout resulting from experiences they encounter whilst on duty.
Mr Morris added that the experience leads to emotional instability, disorientation and affects spiritual well-being. He said with all the stressors, IPA presents itself as an intervention that has the potential to promote wellness and stress management for police officers.
The Association, which was established in 1950, has a membership of over 369,000 in Sixty Eight countries, making it the largest police association in the world.
Botswana Police Service joined the Association in 1987 with one hundred and twenty four members and currently operates with four sub-sections of Northern, Southern, South Central and North Central regions launched in 2019. It was formed on 1 July 1884. Earlier, it was famous with the name Bechuanaland Border Police, but after 1980, its name changed to Botswana Police Service.
