Botswana: Botswana Prison Service continues to focus more on the President of the Republic of Botswana, Dr Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe Masisi’s Reset Agenda to realign and reposition its business processes in an endeavour to achieve its mandate of safe custodial care, rehabilitation and reintegration of offenders.
Addressing officers at Mahalapye and Machaneng Prisons today, Commissioner of Prisons – Commissioner Dinah Marathe has said that the Prison Service has adopted a deliberate stance to value the concept of mindset change as evidenced by its inclusion in its strategic position.
She stated that the ongoing training of officers on mindset change affirms the organisation’s commitment to cultivating a culture of possibilities and high performance. “This is also in the realisation of the National Mindset Change Campaign, which was recently launched by the President of the Republic of Botswana, Dr Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe Masisi, under the Slogan A re clenching”, she said.
She highlighted that the Campaign is meant to foster, nurture and instil beliefs and attitudes that will encourage everyone to act in a more efficient and productive manner for the betterment of the Service and the nation at large.
She said that a positive mental attitude and approach had contributed immensely to the successful formation of the Community-Based Reintegration Committees. She stated that the positive reception received from the community is a clear indication that Batswana are ready to change, receive and accept ex-prisoners.
On other issues, Commissioner Marathe apprised Officers of her election as the Regional Chairperson of the African Correctional Services Association (ACSA).
“I am a happy to inform you that I have resumed my duties as the Regional Chairperson of ACSA following a successful handover ceremony that was held on the 3rd August 2023 at Eswatini. We, therefore, need to be prepared as a Service to reposition and align ourselves to deliver our mandate with excellence and dignity, knowing that our actions and deliverables are on regional spectacle,” she said.
The Commissioner also encouraged prisoners to fully partake in rehabilitation programmes to prepare themselves for successfully reintegrating into society. She pointed out that skills acquisition and programmes such as Peace Education, Gender Based Violence Perpetrators Voice, and Mindset Change, among others, are critical in one’s well-being and social standing.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner also had the opportunity to give a send-off message to the Botswana Prison Service Team, which will be participating in the 2023 Edition of the Southern African Corrections/Prisons/Penitentiary Sports and Culture Games, to be hosted by South Africa from the 14th to 18th August.
She underscored that the games were introduced to promote sportsmanship and physical fitness for Officers and to strengthen bilateral relationships between Prisons within SADC member States. She said the games provide a platform where Prison Officers from the SADC region meet and interact in a more relaxed manner which makes it easy to share ideas, experiences and best practices.
“…indeed, you are truly the best of the best, for yours was never a walk in the park but a journey punctuated by baptismal through fierce fires of competition to select the best you are today. It is therefore my ardent hope that you will bring home a good number of medals and trophies,” she concluded.