The Botswana National Front Youth League notes with worry the continued increase of missing persons reports in the country.
We have noted a steady increase of such cases over the last couple of months, with many such people disappearing without a trace and never to be seen again.
Among the most recent of which is the disappearance of Tlotso Karema, a 6 year old boy from Lobatse, a case which has since sprung to the attention of the entire nation. The BNFYL wishes to add its voice to the ever growing call for the return of Tlotso Karema
It cannot be business as usual when an innocent child has been ursuped from the care of his parents for reasons unknown to all of us. Whether alive or not remains a question in all of our minds. Over two months into this unfortunate debacle, his family are still without the much needed closure of this matter.
We join his family and the entire nation in grieve of this unfortunate situation and we call on law enforcement, the police service and all those charged with the responsibility, to expedite investigation and ensure that Tlotso is returned home. It is our sincerest hope that he is returned safe and sound, but whatever his state, his grieving mother and family deserve to know what happened to their baby boy.
The BNFYL holds the view that Botswana is fast becoming an accomodative ground for human trafficking. People go missing without a trace every other week and something needs to be done.
We call on government to draw closer attention on this issue. Our law enforcement agencies must be on high alert. We must fully capacitate the Anti human trafficking unit in the Ministry of Defence to be visible and take a leading role in the curbing of human trafficking.
We also hold the view that Botswana must look into having legislation that will zero into ritual killings and be used to ably deal with matters pertaining to that. It is an issue we can no longer ignore as a nation and deliberate action must be taken towards ensuring that it is curbed to finality.
No other family in future should have to go through what Tlotso’s family and many others are going through as a result of unexplained disappearences of their loved ones.
#BringBackTlotso #HelpEndHumanTrafficking
BNFYL Publicity Secretary
Tumelo Legase
[SIGNED]