Botswana through the Safe City Project has installed 500 surveillance cameras across two of its major cities. The cameras, installed by China’s Huawei Technologies Botswana are now operational. This will be music to the ears of residents of both cities who have seen petty crime escalate in recent years.
Botswana Police Service spokesperson, Dipheko Motube said the surveillance cameras will monitor streets and residential areas in both Botswana’s capital city Gaborone and Francistown, as well as commercial buildings.
“The project aims to secure residents’ lives and property in the two cities residents as well as to counter terrorist activities effectively and efficiently,” said Motube in an interview with Xinhua after inspecting some of the cameras in Francistown, Botswana’s second-largest city on Wednesday.
Motube said the high-definition surveillance cameras are of international standard and will capture criminal activity, especially at intersections and traffic lights along busy roads and highways. According to Motube, the cameras will drastically slash crime-related incidents. Besides reducing crime in the southern African country, Motube said the resultant reduction in criminal activity will make Botswana more attractive to investors, thereby creating much-needed job opportunities.
“These cameras will enable Botswana police to effectively deliver policing in Botswana through the use of advanced and world-class gadgets,” said Motube.
Botswana decided to turn Gaborone and Francistown into world-class premier cities of investment and international trade four years ago following the relocation of De Beers global sightholders to Botswana from London. As the world expedites a move towards a digitalised global space, Botswana is also in the process of setting up a fully-fledged legislative framework on cybercrime and internet-related crimes.
Source: xinhuanet.com
