GABORONE, Feb. 19 (Xinhua) -- The Safe City Project, under which 500 surveillance cameras have been installed in Botswana's two major cities by China's Huawei Technologies Botswana, has become operational and only awaits formal inauguration.

Surveillance cameras will monitor streets, residential areas in both Botswana's capital city Gaborone, and Francistown, as well as commercial buildings, said Dipheko Motube, the spokesperson of the Botswana Police Services which engaged the global information and technology (ICT) solutions provider to install the cameras.

"The project aims to secure life and property of the two cities' residents as well as countering terrorist activities effectively and efficiently," said Motube in an interview with Xinhua after inspecting some of the installed cameras in Francistown, Botswana's second largest city on Wednesday.

Motube said the surveillance cameras are of international standards, as they have high definition cameras to capture scenes especially at intersections and traffic lights along busy roads and highways.

According to Motube, Huawei deserves a pat on the back for installing the "state-of-the-art surveillance cameras in the two cities," saying the project will drastically reduce criminal activities.

Besides reducing crime in the southern African country, Motube said the resultant reduction in criminal activities will make Botswana attractive to investors thereby creating the much needed job opportunities in the nation.

"These cameras will enable Botswana police to effectively deliver policing to citizens of Botswana through the use of advanced and world-class gadgets," said Motube while pointing at the cameras.

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 the Botswana from London.

As the world moves fast to a digitalized global space, Botswana is also in the process of setting up a fully-fledged legislative frame work on cybercrime and internet related crimes. Enditem

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