Wednesday, February 12, 2025

Inquests on “extra judicial killings” open

Three murder charges and four inquests have been opened against members of the security agents following the alleged murders of 10 civilians.

The killings have been widely criticised and termed “extra judicial killings” in the period between 2008 and 2010, this according to the Botswana Police Service Public Relations Officer, Senior Superintendent Dipheko Motube.

Amongst those cases is the one of John Kalafatis, who was allegedly gunned down by members of the Military Intelligence in a Gaborone suburb early last year.

The case aroused a lot of public condemnation from different sectors of society, including the Botswana Law Society, which said that the act was uncalled for and cruel.

Four officers, Dzikamani Mothobi, Goitsemang Sechele, Ronny Matako and Boitshoko Molefe, have since appeared in the Lobatse High Court in connection with the case.
All are currently out on bail pending their trial.

In other cases, two police officers have been charged with the death of David Monggae, who died whilst being investigated by Sojwe Police.

And a coroner in Maun ordered that a police officer who had shot and killed one Mothusinyana Moagi in Maun Village be charged with murder.

An inquest has also been ordered in the deaths of three Serowe men who were allegedly gunned down by members of the security forces after allegedly exchanging gunfire with the police.

The dead men are Morati Molebalwa, Zacharia Nkwaila and Geoffrey Ogotseng.

Meanwhile a docket has been sent to the Directorate of Public Prosecution, following the death of Moitaly Setaampoloka who was found dead after being released from police cells where he was being investigated for robbery and burglary.

An inquest has also been opened in regard to the alleged killing of two suspected Zambian poachers by members of the Botswana Defence Force near Poha Wildlife Camp.
The two Zambians were Alex Matipa and one Kalaki.

The police were, however, not able to provide information relating to the deaths of three Zimbabweans who were shot and killed by members of security after allegedly robbing a supermarket in Francistown two years ago.

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