Zim man ‘fraudulently’ obtains Omang
Lebogang Mosikare | Tuesday October 12, 2021 12:02
Bernard Mvunda, the Zimbabwean who allegedly obtained Omang using the names Chidzani Mufaya in Tonota, was denied bail when he appeared before Magistrate Thabang Chokwe.
According to the particulars of the offence, Mvunda allegedly gave false information to a person employed by the Department of the Civil and National Registration to obtain the Omang on April 28, 2008, in Tonota.
When Mvunda was arraigned, Inspector Kenneth Edward made an application for his remand in custody since investigations were still ongoing.
Edward said: “The accused has fraudulently applied for Omang when he knew that the information he gave to officials of the Department of Civil and National Registration was false since he is a citizen of Zimbabwe. Our investigations are at an advanced stage. We are still waiting for some documents from the officials of the Civil and National Registration. They, however, since furnished us with some documents in relation to our investigations and we are expecting more today or tomorrow. We arrested the accused in Maun where he was currently working and based. We, therefore, make an application for the accused to be remanded in custody".
In reply to what Edward stated, Mvunda said: “I am facing a charge of falsely obtaining Omang. I want the person I called my mother who assisted me to obtain the Omang to also be called to explain how I managed to obtain the Omang".
Mmegi has since been reliably informed by the police that the person Mvunda is referring to as his mother has since died.
Mvunda continued: “When I applied for Omang, I went with my mother to the offices of the chief and District Commissioner in Tonota to make the application. The police in Maun arrested me where I am currently working. I have been in custody ever since I was arrested and I have left my properties in Maun. I am also married. May the woman who I called my mother also be called to court to tell it that I did not apply for Omang on my own. May I be granted bail because I am not a flight risk".
However, Magistrate Chokwe denied Mvunda bail in order to give the police time to complete their investigations.
In the past, former Magistrate Dumisani Basupi decried the fact that cases of foreigners, especially Zimbabweans in the Botswana who obtained Omang through fraudulent means were overwhelming the courts.
Basupi said that foreigners who obtained Omang through fraudulent means were competing with Batswana for various government services and assistance.
He stated that obtaining Omang fraudulently was a serious offence since the concerned fraudsters may also decide leaders of the country since they can use the same to vote during the elections.