Botswana: The Chinese Ambassador to Botswana, Fan Yong met the Commissioner of Botswana Police Service Dinah Marathe. The meeting was hosted as a part of a courtesy call which the Chinese ambassador paid on wednesday at the Police Headquarters in Gaborone.
The Commissioner of Police welcomed the Chinese ambassador to the headquarters. She thanked him for working with the country to support Botswana’s developmental avenues. The officials have shared that the Commissioner of Police also delivered a brief address during this meeting.
The Commissioner of Police stated that the Botswana Police continues to enjoy cordial relations with the Chinese government. The organization is since committed to strengthening collaboration with the Chinese Government through INTERPOL.
Commissioner of Police, Marathe highlights that it is important to strengthen collaboration through various means. These include the use of the INTERPOL Global Communication System (I24/7) to combat transnational organised crime.
Commissioner Marathe recalled that over the years Botswana Police Service has benefited through Chinese assistance. China has helped Botswana in setting up a Forensic Autopsy Laboratory in Francistown.
Through their support, the organization is also procuring Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) or drones. The officers have received technical training for maintaining Safer City solutions in Gaborone and Francistown respectively.
Commissioner Dinah Marathe said that the Chinese Government had previously donated police equipment, uniform items and Christmas hampers to BPS.
The Commissioner has aksked to the Chinese Ambassador to consider offering scholarships to BPS personnel. She made this request considering the areas that need most assistance such as:
- Security,
- Information and Communication Engineering,
- Software Engineering,
- Public Administration
- International Relations.
Commissioner Marathe further mentioned that the Organisation would also welcome technical assistance on specialised investigations in cybercrime, commercial fraud, money laundering, forensic and cyber forensic support.
The Commissioner assured the Chinese Ambassador that crime is manageable and under control. She also said that the BPS has reinforced its policing efforts and strategies to combat crime in the country.
The Chinese Ambassador thanked the Commissioner for the hospitality and appreciated the long-standing relations between Botswana and China. He promised to uphold and strengthen the existing ties for a better future. Furthermore, he assured the Commissioner that the Chinese community in Botswana will continue to work with the Police in programmes to fight crime.
Mr Liu Yuze, an attaché at the Embassy, accompanied the Chinese Ambassador.