09 May 2020

Ghanzi Senior Magistrate Thapelo Buang has remanded five men of New Xade, four of them without a formal charge because of lack of Sexhanakwe (one of Sesarwa dialect) interpreter. 

Although, all five accused persons preferred to use Sexhanakwe language, the fifth accused , Ditshenyegelo Monyaku facing a single count of unlawful possession of government trophy contrary to section 71 (1) (b) as read with section 71 (3) of the wildlife Conservation and national parks act cap 38:01 of the laws of Botswana, allowed court to read the charge in Setswana in the interim while his co accused insisted that they did not understand any language than Sexhanakwe. 

Magistrate Buang told the accused that government business was not fully restored, “so we do not have Sexhanakwe interpreter. 

He further stated that securing Sexhanakwe interpreter would not take that long, but in light of the current situation, they might not come to court before May 23. 

He stated that prosecution could not be given opportunity to advance reasons why the accused should be denied bail because charge was not read to some accused. Magistrate ordered that all the accused be remanded in custody until next mention on May 27. 

The prosecutor, Inspector Chinga Pateletso earlier pleaded with the court for the accused persons to be remanded in custody and another mention date be set for the charge sheet to be read to the other accused persons when the court had secured Sexhanakwe interpreter. 

Monyaku, however, felt that keeping him in custody would hamper his efforts to seek services for an attorney. Ends