The Motswaledi ‘accident’ is one obvious instance, as are other well-known occurrences. But there must be many others who die of neglect, of bungled hospital operations, by misadventure – being in the wrong place at the wrong time, or by being hit by a falling rock or tree. In many such instances, the police will be unaware of these deaths. But if they were aware, they would feel no need to be involved without some suggestion of criminal involvement.
As a result, those who are surprised, puzzled and aggrieved by a death – perhaps family members – seem to have nobody to whom they can address their concerns. In Botswana, only the police have the responsibility of investigating accidental death. In most cases, their conclusions will be accepted as final. But there does need to be some mechanism by which those conclusions can be legally challenged other than by having to sue. Would someone in the legal profession be good enough to describe this process? Similarly, would that person explain why in this country there is no coroner system so that an enquiry into an unnatural death can be held independently of the police? As I understand matters, the police here investigate and report to themselves. And more or less, that’s that.
