CEDA applicant threatens to kill Makgato
Pini Bothoko | Friday July 21, 2017 15:54
Tombo was arraigned before the court on two counts of threat-to-kill. It is alleged that on July 5, 2017, he threatened to kill, and used insulting words against minister Makgato, accusing her of blocking his Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency (CEDA) loan application of close to P2.7 million.
Court records revealed that Tombo sent minister Makgato a message using insulting words.
The charge sheet reads, “Dorcas you b***h, my mother has died in your slaughter ouse of Letsholathebe hospital and I hopelessly buried her. I wish your mother could have miscarried yo., I would be living in peace like a responsible person. This year, I want that loan or I will behead you”.
Asked if he understood the charge and if he had any comment, Tombo told the court that minister Makgato is the one who is wrong and should face the law because she used her powers to block his loan application.
He told the court that he insulted the minister out of anger because she blocked his CEDA loan application due to his support for the opposition.
“Back in April 2012, after discovering my loan application at CEDA, Makgato who was then the Minister of Trade and Industry, contacted me, arranged a meeting with me and we later met at her office in Gaborone where she demanded me to be aligned with her party in order to be granted the loan.”
Tombo added: “Makgato told me to produce a BDP membership card first if I was serious about the loan. She told me that my Identity Card (Omang) was rubbish and the pertinent thing was for me to produce the BDP membership card. She did that deliberately knowing that I was supporting an opposition party. Since then, I have been trying to follow up the matter with CEDA offices and to date they have not provided me with a relevant answer as to why they cannot process my request. This shows that Makgato was serious, saying I should produce the BDP membership card in order to be assisted”.
Tombo told the court that what Makgato did was unconstitutional as compared to his insults towards her.
“Following what she did to me, Makgato should be the one in jail, not me. If she could have not said those words, this could have not happened. I am pleading with this court to grant me bail because I am a responsible father of four with the youngest child being four months old. My wife is a teacher at Shakawe Senior Secondary School and currently struggling with the kids without my assistance. I was the one who was looking after the younger child when my wife was at work,” Tombo said.
But the prosecution pleaded with the court not to grant Tombo bail because they suspect that he might not be of sound mind. They wanted to refer him to Sbrana Psychiatric Hospital for assessment. State prosecutor, Oamogetswe Gaboutlwelwe further pleaded with the court to remand Tombo in custody as they suspected that if granted bail, he might continue with his threats.
“Their misunderstandings dates five years back, and the accused does not want to let go. We also wish he could undergo counselling because we suspect the rejection of the loan might be the reason that triggered his actions,” Gaboutlwelwe said. In response, Tombo rubbished the prosecution claims, stressing that he was not a lunatic, but a sober minded person who has never committed any offence.
“My misunderstanding with Makgato is politically influenced. Even if she can use her powers to lock me up in prison, to shut me up at the end it will be revealed in court that I am not insane and justice will be served,” Tombo said. Tombo will appear in court again on August 3 for mention.