Respect the sanctity of life

Mmegi Editor | Monday January 30, 2023 06:00

They just simply choose to kill whenever it suits them.

Despite Botswana being known as a peaceful and tolerant nation, the country continues to experience a series of love- related murders dubbed passion killings and others that simply start off simply as fights and metamorphose into deaths.

Husbands and boyfriends have lately been on the lead killing their spouses and supposed loved ones over unexplained circumstances. It is even worrying that men whose duties or former duties involved violence like the military have lately stepped forward in killing their partners and then turning weapons on themselves.

What emerged at the Broadhurst Magistrates Court this week left the court utterly dumbfounded. Outlwile Aston, who is locked up for the brutal murder of his wife, Barulaganye-a teacher at Kopong back in July 2022, is now accused of interfering with witnesses. Outlwile is accused to have sent a friend of his to interfere with one of his sons who is a key witness in his mother’s murder.

On the fateful night, Barulaganye was with her six-year-old child who allegedly witnessed it all in the chilling, inhuman and brutal killing of his mother but managed to escape and alerted neighbours about the horrifying incident. The court this week heard that on January 12, 2023, the investigating officer in this incident received a report from the couple’s son who revealed to have received mobile calls from one Philip Molwanta whom he knows asking him questions that did not sit well with him.

It was disclosed that Molwanta had visited Outlwile who is his cousin at prison and following his visit he contacted Thato through the phone and asked him questions that did not sit well with him. The unknown mission sent chill down his spine as he quickly remembered the incident he witnessed when his mother was murdered in his full view. Molwanta allegedly asked Thato where he and his siblings reside and further wanted to know if they were present when the murder occurred and if they saw their father at the crime scene.

The poor boy who witnessed her mother killed is now traumatised and feels that his life threatened and certainly in danger. Therefore, the police should ensure the young boy and other witnesses in this matter are protected from a possible plot to eliminate them.

Today's thought

"“Protection is not a principle, but an expedient.” — Benjamin Disraeli