JAIL STORM
A Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF) activist and 2024 Francistown East parliamentary hopeful, Keorapetse Muzila, faces possible jail time after the Francistown High Court issued a civil imprisonment warrant against her this week.
The warrant stems from a debt dispute in which Muzila is accused of failing to repay P117 500 borrowed from Motswana Tlhako in October 2020.
According to court documents seen by this publication, the two parties had agreed that Muzila would repay the loan in full at the beginning of November 2020, with no interest attached.
However, it is alleged that despite repeated demands, she failed or refused to settle the debt or pay any portion of it.
Frustrated by the lack of repayment, Tlhako took the matter to court seeking legal recourse.
Muzila reportedly did not make an appearance before court, prompting Judge Bengbame Sechele to rule in favour of Tlhako and grant an order for civil imprisonment.
Tlhako’s attorney, Oarabile Molefe confirmed the development, stating that the warrant had indeed been issued. He indicated that they are now considering the appropriate time and way to execute it.
When contacted for comment, Muzila expressed shock at the development, insisting that she was unaware of the court order.
“What? What do you mean? When was this? I will need to make a few calls and even contact my lawyer. I do not know about this. All I know is that we made a payment plan and I have been paying,” she said.
She promised that she would make a proper comment on the issue at a later stage.
Muzila has recently been active in politics under the BPF, particularly during a period when her party has been marked by internal divisions.
At one point, she was cited as acting president of a faction of the BPF, although it remains unclear whether she still holds that position amid ongoing disputes within the party.