CONNED AGAIN

 

An incensed 37-year-old man who works as a technician in Maun stormed into the town's police station on Friday to open a case against a fake traditional healer who allegedly swindled him money amounting to P269 000.

The fed-up victim seemingly got tired of the Ugandan traditional healer's empty promises and has since confessed everything to the police.

Details are that the victim relied only on the information he saw about the healer on a poster last year in September.

The poster had advertised the services of the Ugandan traditional doctor in Maun, stating that he tackles different problems that include financial struggles, marriage problems, job losses and increase of manhood, among others.

Upon seeing the poster, the troubled man who did not divulge troubles that led him to consult the Ugandan healer, called the numbers on the poster and arranged for consultation.

The herbalist invited him to his rented house at Senyedi ward in Maun, where he was told his matters needed money amounting to P600 000. With the hope that the information he got from the traditional doctor was true, he applied for a personal loan with one of the local banks.

After receiving the loan money, the victim called the traditional doctor and paid him a deposit of P194 000 and the traditional doctor promised that all his troubles would disappear in an instant, through the use of powerful traditional herbs.

Upon receiving the money, the healer is reported to have taken a trip to Rakops to search for the necessary herbs. Later he was reported to have traveled further to Kasane as he had failed to find his preferred herbs in Rakops.

The healer would later call the victim from Zambia, claiming that he had finally found the herbs but that he had no money to return to Botswana.

Having hope that his nagging problems would soon be solved, the victim sent the healer money amounting to P75 000 on different occasions between January and February.

A month after the last payment, the Ugandan man has not yet returned to Botswana and he has since deserted his rented house in Maun.

Confirming the incident, Maun police station commander, superintendent Dennis Zilawe said it is true that they have launched a manhunt for the Ugandan traditional healer.

He said that the victim confessed that he was told that he would need P600 000 for all his problems to disappear.

"The victim was promised herbs that would bring him luck and make all his problems disappear," explained Zilawe.

Local traditional healers have always expressed concern that Batswana like running to foreign nationals, believing they can help them better through their problems, than when they consult with locals. Onthatile Cosmos

Tshotlane from Dikakapa tsa Dingaka Association of Botswana, also known in his field as Dr Tshukuru, told The Midweek Sun in an interview that foreign traditional herbalists take advantage of Batswana as the latter believe more in them, with the hope that foreign healers bring more powerful herbs.

"A herbalist like that should have a certificate that allows him to practice internationally and a residence permit. Clients should always ask for that to avoid being conned of their hard earned money," Tshukuru advised.