Zim father guilty of child neglect, ill-treatment
Goitsemodimo Kaelo | Wednesday February 21, 2018 12:52
The 52-year-old was charged with two counts of neglect and ill-treatment of children under section 56 (1) as read with sub section 2d of the Children’s Act.
He was convicted for unlawfully remaining in the country without permit for a period exceeding 90 days after his visitors permit expired on September 11, 2015 to January 6, 2018 when he was arrested.
He was convicted on his own plea of guilty.
In the first count, it is said that the accused acted in a negligent manner by exposing his daughter to conditions that could cause psychological and physical harm when he caused her to travel by public transport from Zimbabwe to Gaborone unaccompanied and without travel documents.
She was found idling by people at the Gaborone Bus rank, who took her to the police station.
In the second count, it is said that the accused entered Botswana on July 11, 2015 but overstayed beyond the stipulated 90 days. He was arrested in Mogoditshane in January.
When the statements of the facts were read to him this week, the accused did not waste the court’s time and agreed that he acted in a way that exposed his daughter’s life to psychological and physical harm.
He agreed with the prosecution that his actions caused his daughter distress and trauma, as she found herself in unfamiliar territory at the bus rank and experienced the trauma of police interrogation in their custody.
In mitigation, the convicted father of eight said that he apologise for his actions, which he said have caused his daughter who was meant to start her Form 1 to miss school.
“I plead with the court to have mercy on me when it passes sentence because I am currently taking care of my families here and back home in Zimbabwe,” he said.
He told the court that he is unemployed, but has been providing for his family by doing piece jobs as a mechanic.
When magistrate Goodwill Makofi asked if he would be able to raise money if he gets fined instead of a custodial sentence, Tiweti replied in the affirmative.
He told the court that his church mates, who are his relatives and friends, have already raised some money to assist him.
Meanwhile, the prosecution told the court that Tiweti has no previous convictions in Botswana.
His sentencing has been set for February 28, 2018.