Selebi-Phikwe Police Station commander, superintendent Victor Nlebesi told Mmegi last week that the Zimbabwean had been harassing residents of this town since February, stealing and breaking into their homes. He said that the suspect had been hiding in the hills that surround Selebi-Phikwe. He mentioned that the Prohibited Immigrant would appear at the magistrate's charged with several counts. "We managed to arrest this man during Operation Moremogolo that was held from November 25 and lasted three days. The operation involved members of the Botswana Police Service, Botswana Defence Force (BDF), and departments of Prisons, Immigration and Labour. The aim of the operation was to clamp down on crime that has been rising in this town and its surrounding cattle posts being Tshokwe, Robelela, Tobane, Sefophe and Mmadinare village," Nlebesi said. He added that they managed to arrest 67 men, 44 women and six minors, most of them Zimbabweans.
Nlebesi said offences that suspects committed were overstaying in Botswana, border jumping, and working without work permits. He said most people arrested were sent back to Zimbabwe and others taken before the courts for lashing and to pay fines that ranged between P20 and P1, 000. He mentioned that the massive support they got from members of the public during the operation showed that there is cooperation between the public and the police. He highlighted that if sustained, the operation would help in combating crime in the area.
