In recent months, there has been several retired soldiers across the ranks who opted to commit suicide. Having personally been involved with welfare issues at BDF while I served, I thought this had some association with the fact that most retired soldiers are living below the poverty datum line.
I have to make it very clear to the reader that Botswana’s soldiers of yesteryear are living under very difficult circumstances. The military often adopts a pyramid shape in its form. That means most of these soldiers that are living under very difficult conditions are coming from the non-commissioned bracket.
In Botswana, it is only miners and soldiers who do not have any form of pension. The South African mining corporations had designed it that way that they would use this human capital and dump it when they could no longer be productive. But what happened to the BDF soldier who does not have any pension?
While government was doing its bit in providing a small pension for every one of them, then came the capitalists who saw these men as a source of capital and in collaboration with the top brass of the military, their pension was privatised. This was a turning point.
The only developed country that has put the pension of its soldiers into private hands is Australia. But their legislation protects them from any form of devaluations on their policies. But the privatization of pension for the military in Botswana was a scam.
The interesting thing is that the very generals that were coercing their soldiers to join private pension are playing the part of messiahs. They are taking government to court for breach of rules. They are once again coercing their soldiers to litigate. This is going to be a long and protracted legal battle and it is going to wear down the poor soldiers.
The way out of this mess is to negotiate a quick settlement by both parties. The legal route is not taking them anywhere but it only serves to wear their morale and finances down as they have to frequently be contributing P1 000 each for legal fees.
Many have joined the legal battle because they trusted their generals that this legal challenge on government was going to be a quick and decisive battle. The generals used honey-coated words such as pitsa e budule (food is ready to serve), and three years down the line the story line hasn’t changed.
The rate at which retired soldiers are committing suicide and dying from natural causes is alarming. They are so demoralised and are dying from curable diseases but they can’t afford medical insurance and in some cases transport money to access government medical facilities.
Soldiers have had peculiar injuries while in service because of the nature of their job. The reason why most people choose to serve for a shorter period in the militaries of developed countries is for the fact that this career is far too demanding physically and psychologically.
Unless government does something to change this dire situation, it is going to get worse. While the retired generals are still dicing with the lives of their soldiers, government must take the responsibility to restore the dignity of its retired soldiers.
But within a space of two weeks this month, two soldiers in service decided to take their lives. The last suicide incident even occurred within an armoury at Glenn Valley Barracks. At least the soldier did not use a firearm to kill himself. However, for the family of the deceased, it is still tragic enough.
The commander needs to take action and address the situation. It may not be as prolific as it is with retired soldiers but this situation needs immediate attention. History is repeating itself.
In 1989 when General Khama took over as commander, it was in the middle of a suicide epidemic in the military. The positive thing that he did was to establish platforms to deal with this issue. Then chaplains were recruited into the military to help deal with the situation.
Thirty-three years later the wheel seems to have turned 360 degrees. Three decades ago, the US Department of Defence was still offering free courses through the IMET (International Military Education and Training) program and I personally became a beneficiary of the deal as I was sent to the US to train on suicide prevention.
BDF must invest on its human resource by employing psychologists, social workers and chaplains to deal with this situation. The military must this time around spend money in training these professionals specifically for suicide prevention.
Over the years, the military has lost professionals in this area but it didn’t seem like the leadership cared about the exodus. People like Hon Kefentse Mzwinila could still be benefitting the military if there was any retention program in the past. By the way, the honourable minister was a lieutenant serving at BDF as a qualified clinical psychologist.
But it is also for us who worked to deal with the past situation of suicide cases at BDF that are better placed to advise government better. Mzwinila is better placed to influence policy around the issues I am airing here. His presence in cabinet and his past experiences must help inform policy regarding welfare and suicide in the military.
Once a soldier always a soldier and it is for that reason that we left the army and yet we still have our hearts there. Some of us wish the commander well in his leadership role. So far here is an opportunity presenting itself to General Placid Segokgo, he can create his legacy around this issue. There is nothing as frustrating as leading a suicidal military, but he has the resources to tilt the scales for the good of this country.
Issues regarding suicide need a multi-pronged approach. It begins with the family, the community until it rests with the employer, in this case BDF. It also requires prayer for the military and the nation at large.
