06 Jun 2023

Murder accused, Ernest Legwale has portrayed himself as a man who lived in fear of being bewitched to death by his in-laws.  Giving evidence in chief before Justice Michael Leburu of High Court in Gaborone on Friday, the accused charged for the murder of Thato Meswele on September 2015 in Oodi told the court that his in-laws wanted him dead before the finalisation of his divorce to Dimpho Meswele.

 He is charged alongside Hamadi Mkhuha and Zwichanaka Dabie, the latter was not in court.  Legwale told court that after his wife, Dimpho served him with divorce papers, he consulted a traditional doctor Mr William Mhiwatiwa who told him that his in –laws wanted him dead before end of the divorce case.  “He told me that he will protect me from their evil scheme,” he said, adding that Mhiwatiwa charged him P60 000, which was to protect him and his property worth over millions. Further, he said Mhiwatiwa was to accompany him to all the court proceedings, which he however failed to honour.

 He told court that at some point, Mhiwatiwa drove him next to his in-laws homestead in Oodi and left him in the car with another man. Upon his return, Mhiwatiwa showed them fourteen bones in a plastic, which resembled those of a traditional doctor, and explained that the bones were used by Dimpho’s grandmother to bewitch him.  The following day, the traditional doctor called him to his place and asked him to bring one of his elders, so that he would explain to him the problems he faced, adding he then brought his paternal uncle. He said Mhiwatiwa eventually buried the bones afterwards.

“I then continued with my life knowing that I am safe and the divorce will end while I am still alive,” he stated. To his surprise, he said Mhiwatiwa summoned him after some days to his place and showed him a ring and powdered herbs in a plastic he claimed he got from the in-laws.   “I was so happy because he continued to protect me. He then gave me some herbs to bath with,” he said. However, he said he discontinued consulting Mhiwatiwa before Thato’s incident as he doubted his powers. He said it was not true that he consulted Mhiwatiwa after Thato’s death for cleansing ritual or confided that the people he sent killed a wrong person.  Legwale allegedly sent Mkhuha and Dabie to kill Dimpho but the duo killed Thato. The case continues on October 16, 18, 19 and 20 .  ENDS