Duo partners to advance offender

A renewed hope for social harmony and offender rehabilitation took centre stage as Alpha Outreach and the Botswana Prison Service (BPS), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), marking a significant step toward strengthening reintegration efforts. Speaking at the MoU signing ceremony in Gaborone recently, BPS Commissioner, Mr Anthony Mokento emphasised that social harmony remained a critical aspiration for any nation, describing it as a state in which people coexisted peacefully, resolved conflicts constructively and worked collectively toward common goals. Mr Mokento said the MoU was expected to contribute to broader regional aspirations, with reference to supporting social harmony efforts beyond Botswana.

He further said the initiative reflected a shared commitment to building a more peaceful and cohesive society through rehabilitation, education and community engagement. Commissioner Mokento reiterated that BPS was mandated not only to provide custodial care but also to equip inmates with the tools needed for successful reintegration into society. He said through structured psychosocial programmes, inmates were encouraged to develop empathy, adopt new perspectives and avoid retaliatory behavior.

He said it was through such programmes that the Prison Service found alignment with Alpha Outreach, a registered trust focused on social development and community transformation. “We cannot do it alone, partnerships provide the technical support we need and that support must translate into real, measurable outcomes,” Mr Mokento said. Sharing similar sentiments, Alpha Botswana chairperson, Mr Vijaya Prasad underscored the importance of shared responsibility in rehabilitating offenders, highlighting the role of faith-based organisations in complementing government efforts.

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Mr Prasad said the partnership reflected a broader understanding that criminal behaviour was often shaped by misdirection rather than deliberate harm, particularly during formative years. He said the initiative sought to rebuild lives and restore dignity.

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