20 Jul 2023

Maun Police Station Commander, Superintendent Dennis Zilawe has expressed concern over the increasing cases of defilement in his jurisdiction. 

He said in an interview on Wednesday that four cases were recorded during President Holidays.

He said the cases involved school going girls who were reported to have been sexually abused and impregnated by elderly men.

In one of the cases, Supt Zilawe said, police had arrested two men aged 30 years at Khwai for engaging in sexual relationships with minors. 

The duo, he said defiled two girls both aged 17 from same village.

In  an another case a 20-year-old man was arrested for defiling a 14-year-old girl at Botshabelo ward in Maun.

Supt Zilawe said the matter was reported by the victim’s parents after the child came home at midnight on Monday and told them that she had been at her boyfriend’s place.

He also said the police had embarked on a search for a suspect who impregnated a 15-year-old Tsodio Junior Secondary School girl. 

Supt Zilawe said  the matter was reported by the victim’s mother. 

He said the mother had been worried about some changes in her daughter’s body and took her to the clinic where a pregnancy test revealed that she was seven months pregnant.

“Defilement still remains a serious concern despite our numerous efforts to educate members of the public on this matter,” he added.

Supt Zilawe appealed to parents to always be mindful of their children’s movements and warned sexual predators who targeted underage girls to stop the act which he said had the potential to destroy young girls’ future.

Meanwhile, the Maun police chief noted that the holidays were calm even though they recorded a total 119 incidents of crime as compared to 97 recorded last year same period.

Among the incidents, he said were 16 of assault occasioning bodily harm, two were house breakings and 33 drivers were charged for driving vehicles which were not road worthy while 13 illegal immigrants were arrested and awaiting deportation.

 Supt Zilawe also said they were investigating a fatal accident in which a truck hit and killed a 33-year-old man along A3 road  near Matshwane ward in Maun on Monday evening.

He said the truck was heading to Maun while the pedestrian was trying to cross the road. 

He said the victim was rushed to Letsholathebe Memorial hospital where he was certified dead upon arrival. Ends