They say I have foot and mouth disease � Refugee :: Mmegi Online

FRANCISTOWN: A Zimbabwean refugee charged with unlawful possession of ammunition at Dukwi Refugee Camp caused a shock last week when he told Principal Magistrate, Dumisani Basupi, that he is being kept in isolation at the Francistown Prison because of fears that he will infect others with Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD).

Before charges were read out to him, Tshepang Moyo, said that prison authorities have declined his request for blood tests to prove that he has no FMD. Earlier, the prosecutor, Keobonye Matsapa had informed the court that investigations in the illegal gun possession charge were complete before Moyo brought the case to a halt with his FMD bombshell. Matsapa tried in vain to tell the court that Moyo is being isolated because he has Chicken Pox and not FMD, which affects animals only and cannot be passed to humans.

Basupi postponed the matter to March 19 saying that the senior prison official implicated by the accused in the FMD claims must be given a chance to respond. He assigned the prison sergeant who was escorting Moyo to tell the Officer in Charge to appear in court during the next mention to tell his side of the story.

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