BITTER SPLIT

 

A Palapye woman has been left shattered after discovering that her jailed husband is filing for divorce — even as he faces trial for allegedly molesting her 15‑year‑old daughter.

Banyana Ramotswiri‑Seema, 49, says she is devastated by the move from her husband, 57‑year‑old Leaname Seema of Serowe, who is serving a prison sentence while awaiting trial.

In an interview with The Midweek Sun, Ramotswiri‑Seema said she never imagined such betrayal. “He tore our family, and now wants to walk away like nothing happened. The incident has caused me emotional distress and trauma, which I am still dealing with. I am now focusing on supporting my daughter and rebuilding our lives,” she sobbed.

Court papers reveal the couple married Out of Community of Property on November 16, 2018, in Palapye. No agreement has been reached on the divorce. Leaname argues the marriage has broken down irretrievably, citing Ramotswiri’s “unreasonable behaviour.”

Among his claims:

Since 2021, Ramotswiri allegedly refused to attend weddings and funerals in his home village.

She persistently subjected him to “emotional stress and strain.”

She demanded transfer of his parents’ properties, including ploughing fields and boreholes.

She insisted on monthly rentals from family properties in Serowe, Palapye, and Gaborone, paid through his account.

She kept his ATM cards and cell phones.

Before his incarceration, Leaname claims she threatened divorce and denied him conjugal rights.

The feud spilled into customary court in April 2025, when Ramotswiri dragged Leaname’s parents and siblings to Palapye demanding livestock, a rifle, ATM cards, a laptop, and rental income from his houses. By August, she had taken possession of her cattle and personal belongings, though she refused to collect goats still kept at his parents’ cattle post.

She has since filed another case against his family in the Palapye Magistrates Court, which remains pending.

Court papers further accuse her of harassing caretakers appointed to manage Leaname’s properties, withholding documents needed for appeals, refusing to provide the marriage certificate and Form A, and misusing funds left under her custody — leading to some properties being auctioned by Deputy Sheriffs.

Leaname insists he has lost all love and affection for her, and that repeated attempts by both families to reconcile have failed.

Ramotswiri‑Seema, however, says she will not contest the divorce but demands recognition of her contributions. “I want it to be clear that I contributed significantly to our shared assets. I developed a plot in Palapye and also renovated our house. I am requesting fair compensation for my contributions, including the fields. Even while he is behind bars, he continues to emotionally abuse me through threats and intimidation. I believe I deserve justice and protection as we go through this process,” she said.

The bitter split now heads to court, where the battle over property, accusations, and betrayal will unfold against the backdrop of a criminal case that has already torn the family apart.

Ramotswiri has since instituted yet another case against the Leaname’s parents and siblings before the Palapye Magistrates Court which case remains pending.

Ramotswiri continues to harass the people appointed by Leaname to take care of his properties, which are his sole and exclusive property by virtue of the parties' Out of Community of property marital regime.

Ramotswiri withholds Leaname’s documents left with her which documents could assist Leaname to make timely appeals at Government departments like Land Boards and Courts.

Ramotswiri has further refused to furnish Leaname with the parties' marriage certificate and Form A to be used by Leaname for purposes of these actions.

She has misused all funds and properties that Leaname left under her custody and as such some properties have been auctioned by the Deputy Sheriffs.

Since 2018 Ramotswiri does not show any respect to Leaname and has been making sole decisions disregarding Leaname’s objections and advices.

Consequent to Ramotswiri’s unreasonable behaviour, Leaname has since lost all the love and affection for her. All the attempts by both parties’ parents to resolve their disputes have failed to bear fruit.

'I am not contesting the divorce. However, I want it to be clear that I contributed significantly to our shared assets. I developed a plot in Palapye and also renovated our house.

I am requesting fair compensation for my contributions, including the fields. Even while he is behind bars, he continues to emotionally abuse me through threats and intimidation.

I believe I deserve justice and protection as we go through this process,” Ramotswiri-Seema said.