BDP politicians quizzed over suspected stolen funeral cow There was high drama at the usually tranquil village of Mawana, near Maun, last Tuesday when a sitting Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) Councillor and a former BDP colleague became embroiled in a suspected cattle theft dispute, narrowly escaping arrest but facing lengthy police questioning. Councillor Nico Folae of Chanoga-Samedupi ward and former Councillor Tswelelo RraK Sebati of Kgosing-Kubung ward, found their errand to secure beef for a relative’s funeral feast suddenly turn into a police matter after the cow they were attempting to purchase was alleged to be stolen. The incident unfolded as the two politicians travelled to Mawana to collect a beast for the burial of Councillor Folae’s uncle, set for the following day.
Explaining the chronology of events, Councillor Folae said he travelled with Sebati to the village. “When we arrived in Mawana, we found the cow already in the kraal, and the seller slaughtered it, and our role was simply to bring back its carcass to Maun,” Folae stated. The two men reportedly set up camp chairs and waited for the seller to prepare the meat, a process that quickly drew an audience, as is common in the village.
“As you know in the village when there is a slaughter neighbours- especially men, will start gathering so as to give a helping hand. Soon they arrived, and one of them looked at the animal and asked if it did not belong to another neighbour,” Folae recounted. As others agreed with the suggestion, a tense exchange of words erupted with the seller insisting the cow was his while others accused him of stock theft.
Read Full Article on The Voice
[paywall]
In the heat of the moment one of the onlookers is said to have angrily threatened “to chop off another man’s head with an axe,” Recognising the potential for serious conflict, Councillor Folae is said to have made a swift exit. “When I realised that this may escalate to a serious issue, I left the scene and came back to Maun,” he maintained. Allegations have surfaced that Folae actually fled the scene the moment the police were mentioned.
Folae vehemently denied this, and further dismissed rumours that he missed his uncle’s burial because he had been locked up in a police cell overnight. “I was never arrested, that is not the truth,” he insisted. Police reportedly arrived after he had already taken off.
[/paywall]
