As the public awaits results of investigations into the death of Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) deputy president, Gomolemo Motswaledi, two camps yesterday issued starkly different statements about what they believe was the cause of his death
UDC president Duma Boko told a press conference that preliminary reports by experts engaged by the party suggest Motswaledi was murdered.
He said while they were yet to receive the full report the initial pathology report pointed to foul play as it indicated there was blunt force trauma that resulted in Motswaledi’s death.
“There can be no doubt that this was no normal death in a car, and it is fair that all concerned should be as thorough as Rre Motswaledi would have been in everything he did for us,” said Boko.
He also disclosed that the status of their approach to investigations remained that of parallel investigations, one carried by the normal channels of government police operations and the other by their own private investigators. Owing to its thoroughness, the UDC process would take some time, he said.
“On our private side, our multi-disciplinary team, comprising pathology experts, forensic experts, ballistic specialists and satellite scientists continues to forage information, a process that will take time given the detail involved and the need to marry the analysis into a single cohesive explanation.”
Boko also used the opportunity to announce media activist Phenyo Butale as the UDC Gaborone Central parliamentary candidate. The UDC, he said, had dedicated the 2014 elections to the memory of Motswaledi.
“The Motswaledi family has been gracious to accept to the memory of Gomolemo Motswaledi.
Our activities and how we carry ourselves should therefore remind the nation of these lofty and noble ideals our leader fought for,” he said.
Boko also disclosed that they are ready to mobilise their people and leaders towards a change of government as they expected a win in the October elections.
“Another major aspect of our journey forward is the courting of major nations and allies to make a case to them about shrinking democracy in Botswana, the need to avert election-rigging by the ruling elite and the seriousness of our movement about running a successful government after October 2014.”
Meanwhile the Botswana police commissioner Keabetswe Makgophe announced, on the same day, the completion of the investigation into the death of Motswaledi.
The investigations have rule out any foul play, and as such the police had concluded his death was the result of a road accident, he said.
“These investigations have since been completed and the family of the deceased have been informed of the findings.
“It is not common practice for Botswana Police Service to publicise findings of police investigations of this nature but for speculations and innuendos made by some commentators in the mainstream media and social media regarding this accident, we have found it necessary to make public the result of this particular investigation,” said Makgophe.
