Makgato�s threat to kill suspect sent for psychiatric assessment
Pini Bothoko | Friday August 4, 2017 15:10
Wadza Tombo (49), a Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency (CEDA) rejected applicant appeared for mention before the Broadhurst magistrate Wame Mosugelo yesterday for threatening to kill minister Makgato.
Tombo is facing two counts of threat to kill. It is alleged that on July 5, 2017 he threatened to kill and used insulting words against Makgato accusing her of blocking his CEDA loan application of close to P2.7 million.
During his first appearance in court last month, the prosecution pleaded with court not to grant Tombo bail as they were planning to send him to the Sbrana Psychiatric Hospital for psychiatric assessment as they suspect that he may not be of sound mind.
State prosecutor, Oamogetswe Gaboutlwelwe told the court that they managed to secure a date for a psychiatric assessment for the suspect at the Sbrana Psychiatric Hospital.
“We managed to book a date for the suspect’s psychiatric assessment on September 21, 2017, and until we have received the results, we will not be in a position to allow the suspect to be granted bail. I am pleading with the court to further remand him in custody because we suspect that if granted bail he might continue with his prolonged threats against the complainant,” Gaboutlwelwe said.
For his part, Tombo asked the court to plead with prosecution to speed up the psychiatric assessment if possible because he is not a lunatic like they claim.
“I am worried that I am going to spend another 14 days once again in prison. I am a husband, a responsible father of four with the youngest being five months old. My wife is a teacher at Shakawe Senior Secondary School and is currently alone struggling with the children, especially that the schools have recently reopened. I am a sober-minded person who has never committed an offence,” Tombo said.
After listening to Tombo’s plea, Mosugelo questioned the prosecution if September 21 was the nearer date that they could secure for the accused. She went on to plead with the Tombo to be patient for the psychiatric report because that is when they could be able to continue with the case.
“The prosecution has revealed that they will be depending on that report in order to continue with the case hence the need to be patient,” Mosugelo said. Court records reveal 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 house of Letsholathebe hospital and I hopelessly buried her. I wish your mother could have miscarried you. I would be living in peace like a responsible person. This year, I want that loan or I will behead you.”
On his first court appearance, Tombo told the court that he insulted the minister out of anger because she used her powers then as the Minister of Trade and Industry to block his CEDA loan application.
He said back in April 2012, after discovering his loan application at CEDA, the minister arranged a meeting with him and they later met at her office in Gaborone where she (Makgato) demanded him to be aligned with Makgato’s political party, the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) in order to be granted the loan.
“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,” said Tombo.