Politician Living In Fear Of Revenge
Pini Bothoko | Monday September 10, 2018 14:17
Tshenyego expressed concern for his safety when The Monitor team caught up with him recently whilst attending a full council meeting at Kweneng District Council in Molepolole.
“Recently I was assaulted by Letlhakeng police station commander, Katse, at a bar by the name 600 at Letlhakeng village and I opened an assault case against him. Ke utlwa magatwe a gore a re ke batla go mo senyetsa tiro because I have opened an assault case against him,” revealed Tshenyego.
Narrating his story, Tshenyego said that Friday night he was entertaining himselves at 600 Bar following his victory in the recent Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) primary elections.Tshenyego said as he was overwhelmed by joy he let the cat out of the bag to 600 patrons that if retains his council seat in 2019, he intends to contest for council chairpersonship.
“I disclosed to them my interest in this position as it will enable me to correct a lot of things that are not done properly in the region. I told my electorates that there are certain bars around Letlhakeng village, which some police bosses entertain themselves at, that do not comply with liquor trading hours and if I won that position such things will come to an end,” he added.
Tshenyego said whilst still speaking, Katse stormed from where he was seated and hit him with a quart beer bottle on the chin leaving him bleeding and some of his teeth knocked out. “I tried to fight back, but people held me back and told me not to fight him,” narrated the councillor. “I went to report the matter to his station and on arrival his juniors out of fear declined to record my statement, but rather gave me a police medical report to go and seek medical attention. Because I was bleeding I went to the clinic to seek medical assistance.”
He added that whilst still at the clinic he contacted police headquarters in Gaborone for assistance into the matter and they got in touch with the area Officer Commanding (OC), senior superintendent Modise Gabatshwane who instructed the police officer who was on duty, to record his statement.
“From the clinic I went back to the police station and managed to record a statement, I told them that Katse took my phone and the P3, 000 cash I had in my possession, but the police officer told me that he cannot search his boss to retrieve such goods. After recording the statement, I went to knock at his yard in an effort to retrieve my things and he refused to open the door. I went back to the police station and whilst still waiting, Katse arrived and instructed his juniors to arrest and detain me. He instructed police officers to put me inside the cell whilst in handcuffs,” he said.
Tshenyego, who spent that night in police custody, said the following morning OC Gabatshwane came and took him to Katse’s office where he questioned them both over what had happened.
“I narrated to him what transpired and he asked me who saw the incident. The following day he (Gabatshwane) summoned and recorded their statements. What transpired shows that I voiced out things that do happen and are not done accordingly, something that annoyed and influenced his actions to assault me,” Tshenyego, who disclosed that he was still in pain following the harassment he suffered when he was detained, said.
He added that in the past he also raised the same concern of certain bars at Letlhakeng that do not comply with liquor trading hours during a full council meeting something that led to Katse to be summoned before council.
“I do not know if such concerns are the ones that he is still angry with, but I was just doing my job as a leader,” Tshenyego said. “Violent and serious cases like murder, rape cases to mention but a few are high in Letlhakeng and it concerns me because most of them start as fights at these bars that do not comply with trading hours. Sadly, when I talk about them someone who should help me fight this scourge assaults me,” he added.
Since the incident there are rumours that Katse is alleged to be saying he lives in fear and has since requested his friend, the councillor for Khudumelatswe, Bokopano Tomiso, to move in with him.
Reached for comment, Katse said he could not say much on Tshenyego’s allegations against him because he heard people saying they have seen such reports in a certain newspaper.
“I cannot discuss such allegations with you through the phone; what if you end up publishing things that I have not said on your newspaper. I am taking legal action against him following the things he said about me on that newspaper hence I couldn’t comment any further. Tshenyego is currently being investigated in my station and as a public figure I treat such information as highly confidential and cannot share that information with you,” Katse said.
The Botswana Police Service’s deputy public relations officer, senior superintendent Near Bagali confirmed to be investigating the case, stating that investigations into the matter are still ongoing to establish what really transpired.
“Investigations are ongoing as the matter is still fresh. I think only towards the end of this week we will be in a position to share with you what our team has established,” Bagali said.