Batswana refuse to snitch

Batswana have poured cold water on Botswana Police Service’s (BPS) plea to help identify people alleged to have looted a liquor truck that was incapacitated at Gaborone West, near Rainbow School circle. Unidentified persons on the 15th December 2018 looted the liquor truck and in an effort to catch the perpetrators, Botswana Police released a statement on the 21st of December pleading with the public to help identify people appearing on photographs and videos that were circulating on social media. Nevertheless a month later, nobody has been arrested in connection with the incident. Details of what could have transpired on the day are still sketchy. Police Assistant Commissioner Dipheko Motube says the driver of the liquor truck is yet to lodge a formal complaint. He said in an interview that nobody has come forward to help them with the case. The case is still very much open and they are hoping that the community will come forward to help. Motube revealed that the damage caused by the looting is estimated to be around P200 000. Motube added that what the people did was illegal and amounts to common theft. Any person found guilty of the offence can be sentenced to one-year imprisonment or subjected to public lashing. When contacted, a local company producing lager beers, bottled water and soft drinks Kgalagadi Breweries Limited (KBL) was unable to respond to The Mid Week Sun questions. An officer said to be KBL spokesperson Masegonyana Madisa was said to be held up in meetings. Meanwhile when BPS released the statement last month that they be assisted to solve the case, their plea was met with much ridicule on social media. Many said that they would not even bother to report anyone as it was not their place to snitch and it now seems that they were dead serious.