National Flag Violated As MP Fights Officer
Tefo Pheage | Monday July 25, 2016 15:37
Sources say the Botswana flag at the constituency office has not been lowered for some days.
Davids is said to be fighting a bitter war with his administrator, Peter Tau, which has since been reported to Mochudi Police Station for mediation. The Station Commander, Simon Sitale confirmed the case to The Monitor saying the area MP has reported an assault case to them.
“I can confirm that it is indeed true that we have a case in which the MP has reported his worker on allegations of assault. We called the MP yesterday and he could not show up saying he was at Parliament offices on the same matter as he has also reported it there,” Sitale said.
Asked on whether he knows that the national flag has been seen flying at night at the MP’s office, Sitale said that is news to him. “I am not aware but what I know is that the national flag is lowered by security officers in uniform, if there are any other difficulties with that they seek intervention from the police,” he said.
Not lowering the national flag, which represents racial harmony and water, is a serious offence against state authority under offences against public order. The penal code states that offences against the national flag- adopted during the attainment of independence from Britain in 1966- falls under insults against Botswana.
It states that, “Any person who does any act or utters any words or publishes any writing with intent to insult or to bring into contempt or ridicule the national flag of Botswana is guilty of an offence…”
It is alleged that the flag has not been lowered after Davids locked the security officer’s uniform inside the office owing to a fight with his office administrator. It is understood that the MP has sacked Tau who is under government payroll and governed by the Public Service Act and prevented him from entering the office by locking it.
Sources claim that Tau has ignored Davids’ theatrics and reported to work everyday though he has no access to the office. Tau recently confided to the constituency committee pleading with them to reconcile them.
When asked about the matter Davids said the matter is before the police and Parliament and pleaded with this reporter to allow the case to be decided by the rightful authorities before splashing it in the papers.
“Who told you about the case, it is the same person I am complaining of right? Please allow the case to be decided by the rightful authorities. I will get back to you after the case to give you the story,” he said.
Efforts to speak to Tau were futile as his phone ran unanswered at the time of going to press while Parliament Speaker, Gladys Kokorwe said she was in a meeting and could not field our questions.