Herder held over farmhouse arson at Dikabeya lands
Pini Bothoko | Thursday October 16, 2025 15:53
The 35-year-old suspect was discovered to have been living under a false identity, police said.
The police said the man, who had been known in the area by the name Goitseone Nyambe for years, was apprehended after weeks of searching.
His arrest followed reports linking him to the arson incident that left property worth thousands of pula destroyed.
Palapye Police Station commander, Superintendent Koziba Phuluweni, said the suspect was arrested on Thursday between Lechana and Dikabeya whilst attempting to flee the crime scene.
“Following his arrest, we established that he is a Zimbabwean national who came into Botswana back in 1996. He speaks fluent Setswana and was for years known to be a Motswana.
“The suspect claims that he had not been paid for months, which made him furious because his employer allegedly owed him more than P10,000,” he said.
According to Phuluweni, the suspect stated that apart from herding cattle, he was also tasked with crushing lab-lab daily, duties he said were never compensated for.
His anger reportedly led him to burn down the farmhouse in protest.
“The suspect further threatened to kill his girlfriend,” Phuluweni added, noting that investigations into the matter are ongoing.
Police have since warned members of the public against employing individuals whose identities have not been properly verified, as such cases have become increasingly common in rural farming areas.