Mayhem at Parliament

This week was yet another dramatic one as police brutality took centre stage when the law enforcement officers clashed with unemployed youth and local journalists on Monday afternoon.

A peaceful gathering in front of Parliament buildings by the unemployed youths turned into a skirmish with police, culminating in arrests and detention of protesters, politicians and journalists.

Brandishing placards expressing their demands for sustainable jobs, the youths provoked the wrath of police who immediately turned on them with sjamboks and knobkerries. The hallowed Parliamentary grounds were instantly transformed into a drama scene as youths scurried in all directions from menacing police brutality.

When the dust settled, four of the youth, among them Botswana National Front Youth League (BNFYL) President, Khumoekae Richard, were arrested and detained at the nearby Gaborone Central Police Station. Later on four journalists found themselves on the wrong side of the law simply for trying to report on the incident as it unfolded.

The whole episode comes after the founder of the #unemployment Movement Tlamelo Tsolope was arrested and detained on July 7th this year for demonstrating outside Parliament against the lavish spending associated with Bot50 celebrations instead of creating sustainable jobs for Batswana.

As it happened
1330hrs: unemployed graduates gather at Parliament building. The aim is to seek audience with Members of Parliament to air their concerns over the increasing unemployment. The youth gathered here after they were denied permission to stage a demonstration from Gaborone Senior Secondary School grounds to march to Parliament to hand in a petition. As the youth wait outside Parliament, the MPs walk inside and proceed with their day’s business.
1500hrs: Police officers approach the gathering in small groups and in no time a large contingent of police has surrounded the youth and the police public relations officer starts taking pictures and videos of the gathering, which causes the youths great unease. BNF Youth leader Richard Khumoekae together with Botswana Congress Party Youth League President Tumiso Rakgare request that the police refrain and stop taking pictures.

An exchange of words ensues with the senior police officers over the lawfulness of the gathering. Inside Parliament, MP for Gaborone Central Dr Phenyo Butale fails to convince Speaker of the National Assembly Gladys Kokorwe to adjourn proceedings to address the gathering. Opposition MPs, one after the other, leave Parliament to address the youth and give them an update of what transpired inside Parliament regarding adjournment of proceedings and listening to youth concerns.

1555hrs: Senior Police officials give the youth a ten-minute ultimatum to disperse. The main contention by the police is that the picketing is unlawful and the youth should follow proper procedure, which according to the police is to seek a permit. The youth and the opposition MPs argue that there is no need for a permit because the youth were not marching, demonstrating or handing a petition but were simply gathered outside Parliament to see the legislators they have voted for. As the ten-minutes elapse unnoticed, the senior police officers give an order to their juniors to use force and beat up the youth so that they disperse. Commotion ensues as the police officers heed the orders. Some members of the public passing through Parliament panic as they get caught up in the fray and begin to run for their lives.

The first batch of youth gets arrested, among them BNFYL leader and are taken to Central Police Station. One of the demonstrators takes cover at the Parliament public gallery. A police officer storms the gallery forcefully and drags him out. MP for Francistown South Wynter Mmolotsi requests Parliament to adjourn to find out what is happening. Speaker Gladys Kokorwe rejects the request and orders Parliament to continue with its business.

1630hrs: The police try to arrest the second batch but debate ensues as to what charge they are being arrested for. Central Police Station Commander, Tau maintains that they would notify them of what they are being arrested for. Efforts by MP Butale to persuade the police to disclose why the youth who came to see him at Parliament were being taken away in a police van fall on deaf ears. The arrested are whisked away to central police station. Journalists and some members of the public follow the police vehicle to the police station.

1710hrs: e-Botswana Cameraman, Bogosi Raududu gets arrested for allegedly entering the police station premises while filming with his camera. He is detained in a small corner office and left in the guard of four junior police officers. Media personnel on the ground raise alarm on social media and in no time more journalists gather outside central police station demanding answers as to why their colleague was arrested while on duty. The situation shifts - it is now the Fourth Estate against the police.

South Central Divisional Commander Senior Superintendent Montshiwa claims ignorance of any journalist being arrested. As pressure mounts from the journalists, Montshiwa requests that any enquiry should be directed to the police public relations unit. As journalists demand that he answers as he is the one on the ground and the public relations office was closed, Montshwa orders that journalists disperse in ten minutes failing which what transpired at Parliament would recur.

1825hrs: President of Botswana Media and Allied Workers Union, Phillmon Mmeso, also a journalist with The Patriot on Sunday, gets arrested on the orders of Station Commander Tau. Radio Presenter Reginald Richardson of Gabzfm is also arrested after he sought a comment from the Station Commander regarding Mmeso’s arrest. Richardson’s Producer, Keikantse Shumba is also dragged into the police station for filming Richardson’s arrest.

1900hrs: The three media workers are released apparently after a heated engagement with the police over their arrest and that of the e-Botswana cameraman. BOMAWU President together with Secretary General Victor Baatweng address the media personnel and call for them to remain resolute and stand in solidarity even if it means until the following day.

1950hrs: MP Butale alongside MP for Selibe-Phikwe West Dithapelo Keorapetse and MP for Gabane-Mankgodi Pius Mokgware reveal that the police have agreed to release the detained youth and the journalist after questioning them following a lengthy meeting. It is revealed that two of the demonstrators urgently need medical attention as a result of the beating.

2000hrs: Three hours after his detention, e-Botswana cameraman is released after the police go through his video recording to check if he could have made any recordings inside the police station. He expresses disappointment that he was kept for hours without knowledge of why he was detained.

2210hrs: Police reveal that the arrested youth would spend a night in custody and appear in court the following day on a single count of common nuisance.
On Tuesday morning, yesterday, police are reported to have released the youth because the docket they were working on all night has gone missing. Lawyers representing the youth say it is not over yet.