Opposition youth manhandle police officers in Sebina

Drama unflolded last week Thursday in Sebina Village during the commerations of the African Child Day. Opposition youth inlcuding Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC), Botswana Congress Party (BCP), Botswana Movement for Democray (BMD) youth and their youth league leaders manhandled a team of police officers assigned to offer security at the rally.

Uniformed police officers inlcuding their Officer Commander, who was wearing plain clothes were embarrassed as they were shoved and chased away from the rally.

“Le batla go re twaela mapodisinyana ke lona tsayang dikhameranyana (camera equipment) tsa lona le tsamayeng. Just the other day you guys said you were constrained and under resourced and could not cover us.  It is surprising for you to just come unannounced and plant your spying cameras here,” said one of the UDC youth members as they charged towards the police officers, removing their tripod from the stand and throwing it in the hands of another stunned police officer. The team of police was as a result forced into backing away to find cover and safety in their mini bus.

Reached for a comment after the rally, the Youth League president for the Botswana Congress Party (BCP) said they denied police permission to cover the rally because the previous day, the police refused to provide them with security during the march stating that, “they were under resourced”. Rakgare explained that when the police refused to offer them a permit they were not aware that Sebina is an ungazetted village which does not require one to apply for a permit like in other areas.

A letter from the Officer Commanding Police District Number 15, Senior Superintendent Dintwe dated 15th June 2016 which was in  response to a BCP letter dated 10th June 2016 and requesting  permission to hold a peaceful demonstration reads as follows:“We acknowledge receipt of your request for a peaceful demonstration at Sebina village on the 16th of June 2016 which is the national commemoration day of the African Child. We humbly regret that your request for the march has not been acceded to due to resource constraints. We will be engaged with national activities on this day,” states the letter.