FEARED DEAD

 

The fate of 11-year-old Collen Loba, who disappeared from Takatokwane more than two months ago, has taken another troubling turn, with one traditional diviner claiming the boy is feared dead while another insists he is still alive. Lekgotla la Dikakapa tsa Setso Association from Mmopane says its divine bones point to a sad outcome, claiming Loba will not be alive by the time he is found. The two representatives from the association recently cast their bones and narrated their respective findings, with both speaking out against alleged ritual killings. They also support the march planned for August 31. However, another traditional doctor, Shaushawane, based between Letlhakane and Orapa, has given a completely different reading.

Shaushawane’s bones indicate that Loba is still alive, deepening uncertainty around the whereabouts and fate of the missing child.

The conflicting readings come as campaigners prepare to petition President Advocate Duma Boko over what they describe as the failure to adequately deal with ritual killings and missing-person cases.

The march in Gaborone is being organised as concerns over missing people and alleged ritual killings continue to attract public attention, including in Parliament. Moeladiotlhoko founder and director, Tshepo Sethibe confirmed this week that the planned march will proceed despite criticism directed at him and his investigations, which are often streamed on social media.

Sethibe said the march would start in Block 6, Gaborone, and end at Parliament, where the group intends to hand over petitions.

“The main intention is to petition the President himself and Police Headquarters. Enough is enough now,” he said. Sethibe said one petition will address alleged ritual killings across the country and another focus on the disappearance of Loba and that of a two-year-old child from Tsamaya.

He said the petitions would seek answers on the progress of police investigations into missing-person cases and alleged ritual killings.

“We demand a special unit that investigates ritual killing matters, either independent (sic) or under the Office of the President, and we want to see suspects being arrested and brought before the law,” he said.

Sethibe said they also intend to visit villages that have experienced similar tragic incidents involving loved ones who went missing, with families left without answers, including Chadibe, Takatokwane and Lobatse. He cited the unresolved 1994 murder of 14-year-old Mochudi schoolgirl Segametsi Mogomotsi as an example of why he believes cases involving alleged ritual killings require renewed attention.

“No person should be killed for rituals in Botswana. We are still in talks with Gaborone City Council to fully prepare for the march,” Sethibe said.

Sethibe said they have already informed the Office of the President of their intention to meet the President, while they are also working on obtaining the necessary permits for the demonstration.

According to Sethibe, the march will bring together families whose loved ones have gone missing, people opposed to ritual killings, Members of Parliament and councillors. Asked what would happen if the permit was not granted, he said they still intended to proceed with their plans, although this is not what they hope for.

He cited previous statements by the President on the right of citizens to demonstrate when they are dissatisfied with an issue, provided that demonstrations do not destroy property.

“The president said people should be allowed to march as long as they are not causing damage. The President promised and said he is willing to listen to his people,” Sethibe said. The march comes at a time when the issue of ritual killings has also entered parliamentary debate, with MPs expressing different views on how government should respond to cases involving missing people.

Some parliamentarians have called for Batswana to be allowed to consult traditional practitioners they trust when searching for relatives who have disappeared.

Others argue that ritual killings are a reality that cannot simply be dismissed, with some making claims about people allegedly being turned into zombies.