'The gods will be mad at us'
Thursday, April 14, 2022 | 8320 Views |
Monday morning inside Court Room 4 at the Broadhurst Magistrate's Court premises, a High Court session before Justice Itumeleng Segopolo is about to start. It is a matter between the Government of Botswana and the family of the late Pitseng Gaoberekwe, whose body has been lying in a morgue for four months because of a lengthy burial dispute.
A man, seated at the back, arms folded and a distant look cuts a lonely figure inside the small courtroom. His name is Smith Moeti, the nephew of the deceased and family spokesperson who has travelled over 1,000km from Metsiamanong in the heart of the Central Kgalagadi Game Reserve (CKGR) to Gaborone to hear the matter. Moeti is hoping for the court to end the four-month nightmare of the unending mourning for his departed uncle.
While his leadership has brought about significant progress and development, it is imperative that he exercises greater caution in his choice of words, particularly when addressing sensitive matters.One of the primary concerns is the potential impact of his remarks on Botswana’s relationship with De Beers, the diamond mining giant that plays a crucial role in the nation’s economy.The partnership between Botswana and De Beers has been mutually...