19 Dec 2024

The year 2024 began with the usual hopeful hum, the promise of new beginnings and fresh starts. 

But as the months unfolded, a chilling undercurrent of violence eroded the optimism, leaving a bitter residue of grief and unanswered questions. 

Two horrific incidents, separated by geography but united by a terrifying commonality, cast a long shadow over the year, forcing a nation to confront the brutal realities of domestic strife and its devastating consequences. 

The first tremor struck in Monarch, Francistown. The details remain etched in the collective memory, a quiet, unassuming father, his name whispered only in hushed tones now, taking the lives of his two young children. 

The reasons initially hinted at a breakdown in his relationship with their mother.  Unangoni Salathi of Makobo village is now facing two counts of murder and his case has been committed to the High Court for trial. 

But the underlying fractures in a society struggling to address the root causes of domestic violence remained. The community of Monarch, a place known for its warmth and close-knit bonds, found itself grappling with an unimaginable loss. 

If Monarch felt a localised shock, another incident in Tati Siding shattered the entire nation. The brutality of the act, a father, fueled by the rage of a love affair gone sour, viciously knifing his three innocent children, defied comprehension. The Tati Siding tragedy, unlike the Monarch incident, sparked a firestorm of public debate. 

The media, initially cautious, found itself forced to grapple with the ethical considerations of reporting on such a sensitive and horrifying event. Calls for stricter control laws, although knives were the weapons used, were overshadowed by a broader discussion about the systemic issues contributing to domestic violence, poverty, societal pressures, the lack of readily available mental health services, and the ongoing stigma surrounding seeking help. 

Experts weighed in, offering theories, statistical analyses, and heartbreaking anecdotal accounts. 

But even the most profound analysis could not fully alleviate the collective trauma. 2024 became the year that forced a difficult reckoning. 

The faces of the five dead children – their names, ages, and even their smiles, became symbols of a nation grappling with a violent reality that was too often brushed under the carpet. 

The events in Monarch and Tati Siding were not isolated incidents; they were tragically potent reminders of a deeper, more pervasive problem. 

While the legal processes moved forward, the long, arduous process of healing, of rebuilding trust, and of preventing such atrocities from repeating, had only just begun. 

In yet another eyecatching case, the Court of Appeal on December 6, sentenced former Permanent Secretary to the President, Carter Morupisi to a prison term setting aside a sentence that were delivered by the High Court. On count one of money laundering, 

Morupisi was sentenced to 18 months in prison. On the second and third counts of corruption, Morupisi was sentenced to five years in prison and seven years prison term respectively. 

Morupisi (65) was two years ago found guilty by Judge Mokwadi Gabanagae of Gaborone High Court. 

On count one of money laundering, he was sentenced to two years imprisonment, wholly suspended for three years on condition that he does not commit same offence during the said period. 

On count two counts of corruption, Morupisi was fined P50 000 or five years imprisonment in default of payment, while on the other count, he was fined P80 000 or eight years imprisonment in default of payment. 

However, earlier this year, Morupisi approach the Court of Appeal (CoA) appealing his sentence. 

The appeal was heard in February. 

His appeal was seeking the CoA to set aside the decision of the lower court and by so doing discharge and acquit him. 

In yet another eye-catching case, The Divine Annointing Church International founder, Apostle Goitsekgosi Mojadigo appeared before Mochudi Magistrate Court facing a count of rape and four of defilement. 

Mojadigo is facing four counts of defilement of girls under the age of 18 years and one count of rape. 

The offences are alleged to have been committed between January and May 2024. 

The case is at trial stage and will continue in 2025. Meanwhile, Tsaone Reboeleng’s case of robbery is ongoing before Chief Magistrate, Ms Kamogelo Mmesi at Extension II Magistrate Court in Gaborone.   

Reboeleng who is the sole survivor of the February 23, 2022 shooting, is charged alongside 10 others with robbing a Security Systems cash-in-transit vehicle of about P986 740. 

The case will mention on January 29 for status update and confirm dates for continuation of trial on March 12, 13 and 20. 

The founding chief executive officer of the National Arts Council of Botswana (NACB), Ms Shombi Ellis lost her urgent application with costs. 

Ms Ellis had approached the court on urgent basis seeking to interdict termination of her contract by her former employer, which she argued was unconstitutional. 

In his ruling, Judge Tshepo Motswagole of Gaborone High Court ruled that the matter was not urgent as it was not different from many cases of dismissal of employees that were pending before courts. 

A case that has been pending before the courts since September 14, 2015 finally concluded in August when Judge Michael Leburu of Gaborone High Court sentenced murder convicts, Ernest Legwale and Hamadi Mkhuha to 40 years in prison for the murder of Thato Meswele. 

Thato was a victim of an issue of mistaken identity as the target was her elder sister and ex-wife of Legwale, Dimpho Meswele. 

The accused persons in an incident that has almost jeopardised the Botswana General Certificate of Secondary Education (BGCSE) examinations in 2023 appeared before the Francistown Chief Magistrate, Ms Game Mooketsi in November charged with theft of exam papers. 

The quartet are Tshepo Oakile, Precious Phalantwa, Baroma Baroma and Bonnete Saxhoma. 

The accused persons will mention in January at the Francistown Regional Magistrate Court. 

Samuel Selolwane, who is accused of raping a 13-year-old in Oodi earlier this year is currently remanded in custody as his efforts to be released on bail were denied by both the Broadhurst Magistrate Court and the High Court. Selolwane who is represented by Dr Obonye Jonas has another issue pending before the High Cour following his refusal to undergo DNA tests, one of the grounds that has resulted in his bail refusal. ENDS