04 Sep 2024

A total of 32 offenders from Selebi Phikwe and Baines Drift prisons will benefit from a four-day pre-release workshop whose aim is to facilitate their successful reintegration into society.

The offenders, 19 of whom are from Selebi Phikwe and 13 from Baines Drift prisons, would be taken through various government programmes that are geared to transform lives.

Officially opening the workshop that was held at Selebi Phikwe Prison on Tuesday, Botswana Prison Service’s (BPS) Divisional Commander North, Senior Superintendent Ontlametse Motshebe said the BPS was doing everything in its power to help offenders turn their lives around and become responsible citizens who could participate in efforts meant to develop the country.

He said before being re-integrated into the mainstream society, offenders were taken through programmes that empowered them with life skills and knowledge, to give them confidence to fully participate in the country’s economy and sustain their families.

Mr Motshebe said such would help them avoid involvement in criminal activities adding that BPS and government programmes had proved effective because only a few went back to prison after release.

Held under the theme: Offender Empowerment: Strategy for Positive Re-integration, the workshop was also aimed to restore the offenders’ dignity and confidence to face the world after release.

“This workshop is part of Mindset Change. This calls for you to introspect and be in a position to sacrifice for your own benefit,” said Superintendent Seremane Sikwane.

He said the BPS revised its rehabilitation programme to include reintegration aspect.

The programme calls for the community and other sectors to accept inmates upon release from prison, Mr Sikwane said and added that for inmates to avoid crime, they needed to be empowered economically and socially hence called for the community, the business community and other stakeholders to support them.

Men’s Sector committee representative, Mr Isaac Kwati urged the inmates to prepare for a long journey of a new life they were about to begin.

He said all the knowledge and skills they acquired while doing time, would help them lead better crime free lives.

Mr Kwati encouraged them to accept all the changes they would experience and cautioned them against vices such as Gender Based Violence.

He informed them about the reintegration committees available in their respective communities, comprising social workers, village leadership, business community and other stakeholders, urging them to seek counseling whenever the need arose. Ends