"Her life is at risk. The members of the public are very angry. If she is released, they might injure her," the prosecutor said. Kwenda appeared for mention at the Extension II magistrate court on Thursday.
She has been charged with conducting business as an estate agent when she is not registered with the Real Estate Institute of Botswana. She was operating her business at White City. She is alleged to have ripped off her clients of more than P62,000 after she failed to deliver on her promises. Kwenda pleaded with the court to grant her bail so that she could go and look after her children. She said she wanted to hand over the house which she was renting as an office. She added that she also wanted to put things in order at the office.
But the Extension II Principal Magistrate Faith Dlamini-Ng'andu told her that she could make arrangements with the police to assist her in this regard. The magistrate expressed concern that Kwenda allegedly committed the same offence every time she was released.
The magistrate ruled that she (Kwenda) should be remanded in custody for her own safety. Kwenda said she was aware that the complainants were angry although this might be because they no longer see her. She said she wanted to be released so that she could go and raise money to refund the clients. She said she wanted to ask for money from her relatives.
But the magistrate said she could still make arrangements to refund the complainants when she is in custody. She told Kwenda to provide the police with the particulars of her relatives who could help her with money.
The court ordered that she should be remanded in custody until April 19. Kwenda has not been asked to plead. The prosecutor told the court that they are still waiting for the police prosecutions section to formalise the charges.
Earlier, a Botswana Television (Btv) camera man was reprimanded by the magistrate for shooting pictures in court. The camera man had been waiting patiently and once the magistrate entered the court room, he got busy with his camera. The magistrate called him to order and told him that he had to seek permission from the Clerk of Court if he wanted to shoot pictures.
