08 Sep 2026

The mother of convicted murderer, Banoziba Dambe has told the High Court that her son grew up neglected, abused and exposed to alcohol in the family home.

Ms Chingo Dambe, 70, was testifying in mitigation before Chief Justice Ketlogetswe Gaelapelwe ahead of sentencing.

She told the court that she left her son, Banoziba, in the care of his grandmother, aunt and uncles when she went to Zimbabwe to get married.

“My husband would not allow me to come with a stepchild, so I was compelled to leave him behind,” she said.

She said she would visit sometimes and noticed he was being neglected and abused, but there was nothing she could do.

Ms Dambe said family members took Banoziba to school, but he only progressed as far as Standard Seven, adding that he was expelled on allegations that he had impregnated a girl.

“He then stayed at home and started drinking alcohol,” she explained, adding that members of the extended family brewed and sold alcohol.

The court heard the convict later moved to Kasane with his aunt, where the drinking continued.

Ms Dambe said she once visited him there and rebuked him for excessive drinking, after which his drinking improved.

He later found work and started attending church after becoming a father. 

When asked whether her son was drunk at the time of the offence, Ms Dambe said she was not in a position to state that.

Banoziba was found guilty in May this year of murdering Gaone Matebele, along with Kenosi Rathane, between April 4 and 5, 2018 at or near Pandamatenga farms in Chobe.

The accused pleaded not guilty.

Kenosi, who was initially charged alongside Dambe, turned state witness and the prosecution withdrew charges against him.

According to court documents, the murder stems from another case in which Dambe is also a suspect. 

The deceased had allegedly agreed to be a state witness in that matter.

In that case, the State alleges that Dambe killed the mother of his children by setting fire to the house where she was sleeping with his children, after she had reported him for maintenance.

The court further heard that before the killing, on April 3, 2014, Dambe allegedly approached Kenosi and told him he wanted someone to kill his girlfriend who was residing at Lesoma. The case will continue on October 20.ENDS