Category: Crime

A mistaken identity murder stemming from witchcraft claims has left Ernest Legwale and Hamadi Mkhuha fighting a 40-year imprisonment sentence at the Court of Appeal.

Legwale and Mkhuha were sentenced by the High Court in 2024 for the murder of Thato Meswele on September 10, 2015 in Oodi. Meswele was the younger sister of Legwale’s wife, Dimpho. Legwale had allegedly hired Mkhuha and another person not before court to kill his wife and mother-in-law, believing that they were bewitching him. However, the hitmen mistakenly killed the young sister.

“This is an extreme case by all standards, it involves money and cold-blooded murder,” Court of Appeal (CoA) Justice,Tshepo Motswagole said on Wednesday.

“Your client is riding on someone’s belief in witchcraft,” Justice Motswagole added after listening to Mkhuha’s attorney, Letlhogonolo Makgane.

Mr Makgane had claimed that his client’s sentence was unprecedented and without justification.

The jealousy and aggression from Basimanebotlhe Mpotsang, which turned a night out with his girlfriend into a fatal tragedy back in 2011, has earned him a guilty verdict for manslaughter.

Gaborone High Court judge, Justice Bafi Nlandla, on Tuesday convicted the 44 year-old Mpotsang of Woodhall in Lobatse of the manslaughter of his

girlfriend, after being satisfied that the accused had admitted essential elements of the crime to which he had pleaded guilty.

As per the charge sheet before the court, Mpotsang unlawfully caused the death of Morwesi Gabaikangwe on  November 18, 2011 at or near Thema 1 in Lobatse.

Prior to the conviction, the court had heard that Mpotsang’s actions were sparked by insecurities about Gabaikangwe’s interactions with other men at a drinking spot.

According to the facts as presented by the state prosecutor, Ms Seeletso Ookeditse, the two who were lovers and co-parents of two daughters, were out on a night drinking spree on that fateful day.

But things turned sour when Mpotsang developed some insecurities, accusing Gabaikangwe of getting too close to other men who were also at the same drinking spot.

The entertainment continued until midnight when the drinking spot closed, but the confrontation between the two continued on their way home.

The court heard that an argument ensued, resulting in Mpotsang pushing his girlfriend into a trench, causing her to fall on her back and hitting her head against the trench’s wall.

The deceased managed to get up and they proceeded with their journey home where they slept. In the morning, when the accused returned to the house, he observed that the deceased had a bloody foam coming from her nose and had a swollen face.

“The accused person did not do anything about the deceased’s injuries and he proceeded to his workplace,” the court heard the facts, which he admitted.

During the day, the landlord, after being tipped off about the deceased’s motionless body on the bed, entered the house where the deceased was lying motionless, and the matter was reported to the police.

During the investigations, the pathologist formed an opinion that the cause of death was head injuries. Thus the state believed that the accused person owed a duty to care for the deceased, which he neglected.

The state prosecutor applied for his fingerprints to determine previous criminal records. Mpotsang, who works as a security guard, will appear for mitigation and sentencing on March 5

A 31-year-old domestic worker, Boitumelo Nchimako, who is charged with two counts of abusing a one-year-old baby by allegedly kicking and beating her to a point of collapsing, has been remanded in custody pending her bail ruling next month.

Nchimako who hails from Francistown and was employed as a domestic worker in Oodi in the Kgatleng District, pleaded with Broadhurst Magistrates’ Court Chief Magistrate Nthabiseng Merafe-Olaotse to consider her a candidate for bail on Tuesday morning.

“Ke na le bana, ke tshwanetse go ba tlhokomela,” she told court, explaining that she has children that she needs to look after.

However, Investigating Officer Constable Rebagamang Dario, argued that Nchimako was not a candidate for bail. Constable Dario pointed out that the offence which Nchimako was charged for attracted a custodial sentence, saying she could elude court proceedings if granted bail.

He also said the community was outraged by her actions, which could therefore put her life and safety at risk if granted bail. The 31-year-old accused was therefore ordered to remain in custody until March 9, when she will appear for bail ruling

The trio accused of gang raping a 13-year-old minor at Kgoro in Good Hope District on July 11, 2025 have been further remanded in custody.
‎They appeared before Lobatse Magistrates Court, senior magistrate Mr Tshoganetso Atamelang on Monday who further remanded first accused Wabile Mohlomi of Kgoro, 30, second accused Phenyo Khubitla of Good Hope, 19, and third accused 17-year-old minor of Good Hope charged with a single count of rape contrary to section 141 of the penal code of the Laws of Botswana.
‎Their incarceration was further extended to February 17, after Ms Vanzoline Machikiche for prosecution pleaded with the court that prosecution had completed investigations but needed to tie any loose ends on their part adding that the docket had been completed but they were left with gathering the video evidence as well as a statement from the social worker.
‎Regarding the accused bail application, Ms Machikiche said the prosecution shall avail the minor victim’s guardian to hear the bail application in line with compliance to the new Bail Act, section 15.
‎ “The prosecution intends to bring the complainant’s guardian, the docket is complete, the social worker will avail her report next week,” she said.
‎However, Magistrate Atamelang expressed that investigations were taking longer than expected before trial could commence.
‎He said the accused have been in custody and therefore did not interfere with the investigations. He thus urged prosecution to wrap up their investigation as he had given them sufficient time to do so, so that the matter could proceed to trial.
‎Both, Mohlomi and Khubitla pleaded with the court to grant them bail, promising that they will respect the integrity of the court process. Second accused maintained his plea with the court to release him on bail for him to be able to find an attorney, he reasoned that this was his first offense adding that he needed the services of an attorney.
‎Meanwhile, magistrate Atamelang reminded the accused that it was necessary to comply with the new Bail Act adding that the court needed to hear the position of the Investigating Officer and that of the complainant’s guardian regarding their bail application.
‎The trio will appear again in court on 17 February 2026.

Kgomokasitwa triple murder accused, Moagi Mokomeng, has been denied bail by High Court Judge Justice Oteng Motlhala of Gaborone High Court.

 Justice Motlhala reasoned that the suspect was not a candidate for bail, saying he had not demonstrated exceptional circumstances to qualify for bail as per the requirements of the new Bail Act, noting that it was incumbent upon him to show those circumstances. 

He further noted that evidence presented in court suggested there was a likelihood that he could hurt others if released on bail, and further noted that on balance of probability, there was evidence that he committed the offences. 

The 34-year-old soldier faces nine counts of offences, including murder, attempted murder, arson, and malicious damage to property.

Six Mexican nationals sentenced by the Extension II Magistrate Court to 12 months’ imprisonment and a P5,000 fine for entering Botswana illegally are on Interpol’s wanted list.

Passing sentence on Thursday, Chief Magistrate Ms Kamogelo Mmesi said an Interpol warrant links the six to alleged trafficking and dealing in illegal substances in Mozambique, despite their claims of ignorance of the warrant.

Ms Mmesi noted that, according to the warrant, the offences the accused faced in Mozambique could attract prison terms of up to 20 years if found guilty. She added that information before the court suggested the accused could be part of a major transnational criminal syndicate based in Mexico.

The magistrate said the court was therefore compelled to impose a punitive sentence that would serve as a deterrent to illegal entry into the country. She emphasised that entering the country illegally was a serious offence that compromised national security.

The law, she noted, prescribes a penalty of up to P10,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years, or both, underscoring the gravity of the offence. Ms Mmesi said illegal entry not only violated the country’s security but was often associated with organised criminal activities, warranting a fitting sentence.

In mitigation, the accused pleaded for leniency, stating they were unfamiliar with Botswana’s laws and believed they were not required to stamp their passports upon entry. They told the court they were transiting from Mozambique to Mexico and were unaware that they were wanted by Mozambican authorities for alleged criminal activities.

They further argued that while in Botswana, they neither committed nor intended to commit any offence. However, Ms Mmesi pointed out that the accused’s passports showed they entered South Africa through OR Tambo International Airport from Mozambique on November 6, 2023.

“The convicts say they were in transit to Mexico but failed to state where they had been in two years,” she said adding that they only surfaced in Botswana in November, when they wanted their passports to be stamped, reasoning that such was omitted upon their entry into the country.

The magistrate ruled that failure to pay the P5,000 fine would result in five-year imprisonment term. She backdated the sentence to the date of their incarceration.

The six – Gumecindo Enrique, Jose Pena, Fansico Alejandro, Jose Corrales, Carlos Aguilar and David Teran, were arrested on November 25 last year together with a Nigerian national, Uchema Njoku (53), who has been charged with aiding and abetting crime.

The state was represented by Prosecutor Ms Keletso Kgati, while the six were represented by Mr Malcolm Ghoboza. Mr Njoku is represented by Mr Farayi Mahwite.

Six Mexican nationals convicted of entering the country through an ungazetted entry point have been sentenced to 12 months imprisonment and a fine of P5,000 each.

In passing the sentence, Chief Magistrate Kamogelo Mmesi of Extension II Magistrate Court noted that the court should send a strong message to those of like mind, and further noted that if they fail to pay the fine, they would each receive 5 years imprisonment.

The sentence was backdated to December 5, 2025 when they were incarcerated.

Lefoko Moagi, the former Minister of Minerals and Energy, is scheduled to appear in court again on March 31 for status hearing in respect to the charge of corruption for which he was arraigned on January 20.

With the prosecution not in opposition to him being granted bail, Regional Magistrate – South, Mr Mareledi Dipate admitted him to a P5 000 bail and ordered him to provide two Batswana sureties who will bind themselves with the same amount.

Conditions attached to the bail include that Moagi must notify investigating officers before any international travel and must attend all court sessions.

Earlier, the state requested that plea taking be deferred as investigations into the case were still ongoing.

Once investigations are finalised, additional accused individuals may be brought before court.

The charges relate to an incident that occurred on or around April 17, 2024, where it is alleged that Moagi, in his capacity as a government minister, received P4.7m from New Energy Company (Pty) Ltd through Wisecreatives Investments (Pty) Ltd.

It is alleged that Moagi was provided with a bank card to access the funds from the company and its associated entity, Riders (Pty) Ltd.

The funds are alleged to be a reward for issuing prospecting licenses for base metals in the Ghanzi, Tsabong, and Tutume districts to New Energy (Pty) Ltd. 

In a region where rivers flood roads, wildlife blocks access routes and some communities located hours away from the nearest police station, responding to crime on time becomes a challenge.

This is the reality that prompted government to launch the Botswana Police Service Air Unit in Maun, to serve the vast and complex North West region.

The air unit launched during a ceremony officiated by the Minister for State President, Defence and Security in Maun on Thursday, marks a strategic shift in how law enforcement will operate across Ngamiland and Chobe defined not only by distance, but by water channels, dense vegetation and protected wildlife zones that often make ground patrols slow or impossible.

Rather than being a symbolic unveiling of aircraft and equipment, the initiative is a deliberate response to long-standing operational gaps that have limited police reach, delayed emergency responses and constrained border and wildlife-related policing in the region.

Public security remains central to national development, peace and stability form the foundation upon which tourism, trade and community livelihoods depend, Minister for State President, Defence and Security, Mr Moeti Mohwasa said during the launch.

He said the North West region, as a major contributor to Botswana’s economy through tourism and conservation, required policing solutions that matched its unique terrain.

While acknowledging the current economic pressures, he said the air unit would begin operations with one aircraft, with plans to expand the fleet when fiscal conditions improved.

The long-term vision includes the integration of drone technology and decentralisation of air policing services to other strategic parts of the country.

Mr Mohwasa further stressed that the introduction of air-based policing was part of a broader government commitment to bringing services closer to communities, improving emergency response times, strengthening border security and enhancing crime prevention efforts in areas previously constrained by geography.

For the Botswana Police Service, the Maun air unit is not new ground, but an expansion of a journey that began in Gaborone in 2008 with limited resources and nationwide responsibility.

Commissioner of Police, Ms Dinah Marathe explained that centralising air operations in the capital had placed immense strain on personnel, equipment and response times, particularly for northern districts.

She noted that the opening of a Francistown-based air office in 2012 helped ease some pressure but still left the North West underserved due to distance and terrain.

The Maun unit, she said, directly addressed that gap by positioning aerial resources closer to areas where they were most needed.

Ms Marathe highlighted that crime trends in the North West had generally declined in recent years, particularly property-related offences.

However, she cautioned that stock theft, cross-border crime, illegal immigration, missing persons in forests and drowning incidents in major rivers continued to pose serious challenges that required faster detection and response capabilities.

“The ability to respond swiftly can make the difference between prevention and loss,” she said, adding that air mobility would significantly strengthen surveillance, search-and-rescue operations and rapid deployment during emergencies.

Ms Marathe also underscored the importance of community involvement, reiterating that policing could not succeed in isolation.

She stressed the importance of partnerships with local communities, crime prevention committees and other security agencies, even with the improvement of technology and resources.

For his part, Member of Parliament for Maun East, Mr Goretetse Kekgonegile, welcomed the development, describing it as a practical solution to the realities of policing in the Okavango and surrounding areas.

He said aerial transport would allow the police to reach places that were otherwise inaccessible, ensuring cases were handled promptly and reducing delays that often compromised investigations.

Mr Kegonegile said the unit would not only strengthen law enforcement but also reassure communities that government was actively responding to their security concerns.

Beyond crime prevention, the launch of the air unit also comes amid renewed calls for collective action against persistent social challenges, including Gender-Based Violence, drug abuse and fraud targeting the elderly, particularly pensioners.

Communities have been urged to support law enforcement efforts while also addressing these issues at household and community level.

As Botswana continues to explore technology and innovation to diversify its economy and improve service delivery, the Maun air unit represents a broader shift in thinking, one that recognises that geography should not determine access to safety.