03 Oct 2022

Francistown has recorded one suicide incident spoiling what would otherwise have been calm independence holidays.  

A 51-year-old man of Monarch location was reported to have been found hanging in his girlfriend’s house on Saturday.

Central Police station commander, Superintendent Mogomotsi Kesupile said the deceased left no suicide note and so far there was no information about what compelled him to take his own life.

Supt Kesupile said upon questioning the girlfriend, police learnt the deceased had sent her on an errand to Makobo and was informed of his demise when she returned.

Officers in charge at Francistown’s Central, Tatitown, Kutlwano and Gerald police stations described Botswana’s 56th independence anniversary celebrations as generally calm.

They attributed this to the fact that law enforcement officers were on patrol day and night throughout the holiday period.

Kutlwano Police Station’s Superintendent Neo Serumulo said police visibility had a positive impact on the crime rate in her area of jurisdiction.

She said only minor cases such as theft, drunken driving, house breaking and unlawful wounding were recorded.

Superintendent Boipuso Baatweng of Tatitown Police said his station recorded one rape case in which a 52-year-old woman was raped by a middle-aged man believed to be of Zimbabwean origin.

The culprit had not yet been apprehended by the time of going to press.

He advised women not to go out with strangers explaining that when in the company of friends or relatives, chances of them being raped or experiencing any sort of crime would be reduced.

Supt Baatweng said everything went well during the ‘Toropo Ya Muka’ festival that took place on the eve of Botswana Day.

Generally, people cooperated with police and as a result only minor cases of theft and unlawful wounding were registered, he said.

The Gerald Outpost station commander Superintendent Moore Motsokono concurred with colleagues that police visibility compelled people to behave.  Ends