Gaborone West South Member of Parliament, Botsalo Ntuane, has called on President Seretse Khama Ian Khama to expedite investigations into extra judicial killings and bring the culprits to book.
Responding to President Khama’s state of nation address, Ntuane said that the indiscriminate killing of civilians by security agents blights Botswana’s human rights record and must not go unpunished.
“The increasing incidents of extra judicial killings have raised more questions than answers, and we call upon the highest office in the land to intervene and allay the public’s fears. Security agents have been linked to many of the extra-judicial killings, and government has so far failed to provide answers,” he said.
He added that the most gruesome and talked about incident is the killing of the late John Kalafatis whose body was riddled with bullets amid allegations that he died at the hands of government security agents. To date, he said, the highest office in the land remains mum over the issue and no explanations are forthcoming as to why he was killed and who committed this hideous murder.
Ntuane said that Batswana are becoming increasingly fearful of the Directorate of Intelligence and Security, which has in turn become alienated.
“This is an institution which, by all intents and purposes, was designed to protect them. It is sad that Batswana now view the DIS as a killing organ rather than a guarantor of their protection,” he said.
Vice President Mompati Merafhe was also not spared, as Ntuane raked him over hot coals for a comment that he allegedly made to the effect that one or two shootings is not bad.
“I hope the vice president will clear the air and explain what he meant when he said that. I also hope his honor the Vice President was misquoted,” he said.
Ntuane also called on government to calm and reassure the people over concerns that government is spying on them. He told the house that people were now afraid to speak freely because they believe that their phones are bugged.
