They say they have lost faith in the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) government and emphasised that laws should be applied equally to all citizens.
“There is no one who is above the law. Those shops should be demolished as well. The owners should feel the same pain that we went through. The government does not condone squatters, and I believe this should be the case with Molapo,” said one of the residents, Stokwane Godisamang. The area has witnessed brutal and merciless demolition of residential structures after government declared them squatters.
Godisamang said his houses - some of which he rented out - were demolished early this year and he was left homeless. He is currently staying in a Red Cross tent. He said he is frustrated because he no longer has a source of finance. “I rented out the houses and made a living out of them. I have lost faith in the government and it should be removed from power,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Tsolamosese residents said that they are not only troubled by the demolition of their houses. They said they are terrorised by thieves who break into their houses with impunity. Pebe said it is hard to control crime because there are no streetlights in the area. The residents say the area does not even have water.
