April 25
BOTSWANA:
The Lady Boss Of Prisons
Elizabeth Masire has made history at the Prisons Department. She is the
1st woman deputy commissioner of prisons and rehabilitation. She maintains
that her rise to the top was based on merit and not gender.
She is opposed to the appointment of women to top posts because of their
gender. She wants to see women competing for positions on merit.
"Some women want things to be done in their favour. If you are promoted
just because you are a woman, you are bound to fail. As a woman, I want
people to look at my capability. I have never doubted myself."
She pointed out that in her department, a number of women have proved
themselves. The only problem is culture that tends to restrict women from
doing certain things. Masire said she has never encountered hostility from
her male colleagues. She has a cordial relationship with the males. "I
regard men as colleagues and work mates. It is only human nature when we
differ. Even men differ among themselves," she said, adding that she gets
good support from all her colleagues. The independent minded Masire openly
declares that she is against the death penalty.
"I dont support the death penalty because I think it is a waste of human
life. It is too barbaric. To me the death penalty does not make sense. If
we are not a retaliatory society, why should we kill? I am a Catholic and
as a liberal Christian, if you hit me on one check I give you the other
cheek."
She pointed out that the execution of criminals affects prison officers.
She said the officers live with death row prisoners and bond. "It is very
traumatic when people are going to be killed. There is no counselling. We
just see people come and disappear."
Masire joined the Prisons Department in 1980 as a principal officer. She
was poached from local government where she worked as a social welfare
officer. The Prisons Department was then looking for specialists to help
with the rehabilitation of prisoners. She was employed with another social
worker to set up the social welfare division from scratch. "We had to
create work for ourselves. We saw the department growing from nothing up
to what it is now. We really worked hard. We were bench marking and doing
research to establish the social welfare unit. Our concentration was at
the boys prison," she recounted.
In 1987, Masire was moved to the headquarters while other social workers
remained at the prisons. After getting a Diploma in Social Work from
Kenya, she enrolled at the University of Botswana (UB) to pursue a degree
programme, which she completed successfully.
Following her transfer to the headquarters, she was promoted to assistant
commissioner in 2000. She was put in charge of prisoners administration
and rehabilitation.
She was later transferred to Francistown where she became the Northern
Division commander to oversee Maun, Boro, Francistown, Selebi-Phikwe,
Baines Drift and Machaneng prisons.
She describes her assignment in Francistown as a challenge. She said
prisoners are always looking for an opportunity to escape. We have to
ensure that they dont escape. Otherwise you lose your job, she cautioned.
Masire said another challenge was to ensure that prisoners were kept busy
because if they are idle, they cause trouble. She expressed concern that
local prisons are over populated. She proposes non-custodial sentences for
minor offenders to reduce congestion. After serving in Francistown for
four months, Masire was re-deployed to headquarters on promotion to senior
assistant commissioner. She was put in charge of prisons security and
equipment. Her job entailed touring prisons to inspect whether prisoners
records were well maintained. Her section produced an inspection handbook,
which guides prisons on what they should do on a daily basis.
She confesses that this was a new area to her. "I didnt know anything
about equipment but that didnt mean I couldnt administer. It was a
challenge because I was not trained in arms. I had to learn."
But she seems to have done a good job because last year, she was elevated
to her current position. She is the second in command in the departments
hierarchy.
Masire describes her current job as quite hectic because all prisons
report to her. Despite her tight schedule, she says the job is enjoyable.
She co-authored the Prisons handbook when the department was celebrating
its 20th anniversary.
She was also in the forefront of forming a burial society for prison
employees. Masires father originates from Mochudi but she grew at her
mothers village of Tlokweng. She feels at home in both villages. Masire is
a divorcee with one daughter. She used to play netball and volleyball but
she has now retired. She was a founder member of the prisons netball team.
(source: Mmegi)
