Former cabinet minister and diplomat Tebelelo Seretse was recently raided by unknown assailants and a number of valuables items were taken from her home.
Her car was also taken, but recovered later by police.
The incident occurred during the armed robbery at her residential house at Gaborone north suburbs.
Law enforcement agencies are pursuing leads that indicate that a criminal syndicate has grouped itself with a mission to target high profile people in and around Gaborone.
Seretse is also a business woman and also a ranking activist of the ruling Botswana Democratic party.
The criminal gang is reported to be composed of both citizens and non citizens some of who are said to be under severe surveillance radar of law enforcement agencies including in some of the neighbouring countries.
The station commander of Sir Seretse Khama Airport Police, Superintendent Bannetse Keakile confirmed the incident.
He said his officers are investigating the case in which Seretse, Botswana’s former Ambassador to Washington was robbed.
Superitendent Keakile said though the investigations are still at preliminary stages, indications are that a gang of about six men made forced entry into Seretse’s compound and stole a good number of valuable items including a van.
He said about five suspects attacked and overpowered the gardener who sustained injuries on his face but could not want to disclose the number of the people that were in the house during the attack.
“The gardener was rushed to hospital where he received medical attention and his condition is not life threatening”.
Keakile said the criminals used the van as a getaway to load the stolen items and disappeared into the dark.
He further said during the investigation, the stolen van was found abandoned in Mogoditshane.
“Unfortunately the police have not yet recovered the household items that were also stolen during the robbery. We are hopeful that we will recover them in a short space of time,” he said.
In a brief interview Seretse said the matter is with the police therefore and is as such not at liberty to give detailed information surrounding the incident.
Commenting on the matter, the President of Business Botswana Leta Mosianyane expressed concern that the business community is being targeted and attacked and robbed of their belongings.
He said this is likely to scare investors.
The business leader said it is high time that government considers providing security for the business community in-order to avoid such incidents.
“It is high time that such people are provided with security as they boost the economy of the country.”
Seretse’s attack comes fast in the heels of a similar one where another former cabinet minister and businessman Charles Tibone was attacked at his home in Phakalane.
Five suspects were arrested in-connection with the incident following police invective investigation.
The alleged culprits have been arraigned before the Broadhurst magistrate court on single count of armed robbery.
