A significant number of Batswana feel unsafe and fear crime claiming government is performing badly on reducing crime – a new report by the Afrobarometer has revealed.
According to the report, half of Batswana say they felt unsafe walking in their neighbourhoods at least once during the past year, while about the same proportion feared crime in their homes. The report shows that crime/insecurity ranks second, behind unemployment, among the most important problems that Batswana want their government to address, and citizens give the government poor marks on reducing crime.
Respondents with high levels of lived poverty are most likely to report feeling unsafe in their communities.
Key findings: Half of Batswana (50%) say they felt unsafe walking in their neighbourhoods at least once during the past year, and almost as many (45%) report fearing crime in their homes. Both numbers reflect the highest levels of insecurity recorded in Afrobarometer surveys in Botswana over the past decade.
The report says feeling unsafe in the neighbourhood is far more common among citizens experiencing high levels of lived poverty (64%) than among those who are economically well off (38%). It says fear of crime in the home shows the same pattern: 54% among those with moderate or high lived poverty vs. 31% of economically well-off citizens. Men are somewhat more likely than women to say they feared crime in the home (48% vs. 42%), as are urban residents compared to their rural counterparts (46% vs.41%).
The report reiterated that crime/insecurity ranks second among the most important problems that Batswana want their government to address, trailing only unemployment. Six in 10 citizens (59%) say the government is performing “very badly” (34%) or “fairly badly” (25%) on reducing crime. Only 5% say it is doing “very well.”
Respondents were asked: Over the past year, how often, if ever, have you or anyone in your family: Felt unsafe walking in your neighbourhood? Feared crime in your own home? (% who say “just once or twice,” “several times,” “many times,” or “always”)
Respondents were asked: Over the past year, how often, if ever, have you or anyone in your family felt unsafe walking in your neighbourhood? (% who say “just once or twice,” “several times,” “many times,” or “always”)
Respondents were asked: Over the past year, how often, if ever, have you or anyone in your family feared crime in your own home? (% who say “just once or twice,” “several times,” “many times,” or “always”)
Respondents were asked: In your opinion, what are the most important problems facing this country that government should address? (Up to three responses per respondent. Figure shows % of respondents who cite each problem among their priorities.) Respondents were asked: How well or badly would you say the current government is handling the following matters, or haven’t you heard enough to say: Reducing crime?
