Esinati Chibuda who is a refuse collector with the Francistown City Council was found guilty of common nuisance and use of vulgar language by Martin Chilume yesterday. The court heard that early this week Chibuda called Gibson Gondo names because he brought police officers to search for illegal immigrants in her house. Gondo had complained that a certain alien who had threatened him with death was in Chibuda’s house.
According to Superintendent Agrippa Guma, the furious woman launched an onslaught on Gondo and called him names. “I warned her for shouting and use of vulgar language but she continued misbehaving and she was drunk at the time,” Guma told the court.
Denying the allegations, Chibuda said the officer and the complainant were trying to implicate her. She later called her daughter as a witness but they ended up contradicting each other.
Another witness whom the old woman called flatly refused to give evidence saying that she saw and heard nothing.
“I don’t want to commit myself in this matter. Chibuda only called claiming that the police want me at the customary court and I am surprised she is now trying to call me as her witness,” said Moagi Thutoetsele.
Although she pleaded not guilty to the charge, presiding officer Chilume said it was likely that Chibuda said the words in anger since she was unhappy with the complainant bringing the police to her house.
Pleading for mercy, Chibuda said she was the breadwinner in the family noting that going to prison would affect the family. She also said she had a job to protect with the city council.
Before passing judgement Chilume said Chibuda should stop using vulgar language and learn to respect the police. He said all the state witnesses including the police proved that she was uncooperative. He however slapped her with a fine of P50 or 3 months behind bars in default.
