Towards a Safe and Secure Nation: The First Consultative Conference on Firearm Control, Ownership and Administration in Botswana, 13-15 May, 2003

Keynote closing speech by the Honourable Minister for Presidential Affairs and Public Administration
Mr DK Kwlagobe, MP

Having had the opportunity to welcome you at the start of this important conference, it gives me great pleasure to have yet one more opportunity to say a few words at the closing. It is not all the time that one gets such an opportunity and I hope you will bear with my one more appearance at this very important fundamental conference.
This conference comes at a time when the proliferation of small arms and light weapons is threatening to destroy peace and stability that Botswana has enjoyed since independence. Illegal weapons have contributed to the high incidence of crimes such as armed robbery, car hijacking and murder that this country has encountered so far.
We all know that the illicit manufacture, transfer and circulations of small arms and light weapons and their excessive accumulation and uncontrolled spread in some parts of the world pose a serious threat to peace, reconciliation, safety, security, stability and sustainable development at the individual, local, national, regional and international levels. The untold human suffering and poverty found in some parts of Africa and indeed some other parts of the world can largely be blamed on the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons.
Ladies and Gentlemen, it is a fact that the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects sustains conflicts, exacerbates violence, contributes to the displacement of civilians, undermines respect for international humanitarian law, impedes the provision of humanitarian assistance to victims of armed conflict and fuels crime and terrorism.
It is also clear that there is a close link between terrorism, organised crime, trafficking in drugs and precious minerals, and the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons.
Despite the fact that Botswana has a rigorous legal code aimed at controlling the purchase, importation and transfer of firearms, illegal firearms and weapons continue to be smuggled into the country from neighbouring states. These weapons are being used to terrorize citizens of this country. Some of our people have lost their lives trying to prevent the violent seizing of their property by armed thugs.
In this country the law prohibits the sale and manufacture of small arms and light weapons. Only members of the disciplined forces are allowed to have these items
under strict supervision. Nonetheless, some unscrupulous individuals smuggle them into the country in order to commit crime.
It is therefore crucial that we come up with strategies aimed at preventing the smuggling of small arms and light weapons into the country.

Way Forward
The government of Botswana should recognize the important contribution of civil society, including non-governmental Organizations in the prevention and eradication of illicit trade in small arms and light weapons.
The police alone cannot manage to stop the importation of these arms and weapons into the country. The government should also ensure that the disciplined forces that are authorised by law to hold small arms and light weapons establish adequate and detailed standards and procedures relating to the management and security of their stocks of these weapons.
There should be control of access to stocks, inventory management, staff training, security, accounting and control of small arms and light weapons held or transported by operational units or authorised personnel, and procedures and sanctions in the event of thefts or loss.
There should also be cooperation and networks for information-sharing among law enforcement, border and customs control agencies, with a view to preventing, combating and eradicating the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons across borders. It shall be noted that the government needs close regional and international cooperation to prevent, combat and eradicate this illicit trade.
The development and strengthening of partnerships to share resources and information on this illicit trade is of paramount importance.
There should also be competency testing of potential firearm owners, restriction on owners' rights to relinquish control, and also restriction on the use and possession of firearms and ammunition and an improvement of civilian firearms storage.
The government should also coordinate national training programmes for police, customs, the judiciary and other agencies involved in preventing, combating and eradicating the importation and possession of illegal firearms.
It is also necessary to establish and improve national databases, communication systems and acquire equipment for monitoring and controlling the movement of firearms across borders.
The government should continue maintaining complete national inventories of firearms, ammunition and other related materials held by security forces and other state bodies.
In short, we need a comprehensive National Action Plan to be put in place by our National Focal Point and supported by Botswana civil society. This we intend to do. This conference was a step in the right direction. It is my earnest hope and desire that the immense contributions and the wealth of information exchanged at this conference will, indeed, be put to some good use by all of us.
Having said that, it is now my privilege and honour to officially declare this conference officially closed.

May I wish you all a safe return to your various destinations.

I thank you.