Four Zimbabwean men were this week arraigned before the Urban Court Deputy President Kgosi Motse Sebele after they were arrested in Gaborone while working in Botswana without work and resident permits.
The four men: Nicholas Mwenge, 39, from Mutare, Absolon Mwenge ,31, from Mutare, Madqanai Chirenga ,19, from Bulawayo and Justin Madakase, 21, from Mvuma all pleaded guilty to the charges of working in Botswana illegally and promised to desist from working without papers.
State Prosecutor from Central Police Station, Constable Thatayaone Mabhangu, told the court that the four were arrested on November 9, 2006, Gaborone after a tip-off while building a house for a construction company. The owner of the house was also charged for employing people without papers.
Kgosi Sebele warned them not to work in Botswana without proper documents. He said the problem was that after failing to get piece jobs in Botswana they turned to crimes including drug trafficking.
He sentenced them to five strokes and advised them to stop working and staying in Botswana illegally.
Kgosi Sebele ordered the police to take the four to the Immigration Department for deportation after the flogging.