Man pushes life after triple murder charge
Kativa Diwanga (37) of Block 1 in Francistown is trying to pick up the pieces after a devastating triple murder charge against him back in 2019.
He vividly recalls the confusion that filled his life on that fateful day when he was whisked away in handcuffs like a common criminal. He was to face the wrath of the law for allegedly killing a family of three in Gaborone, Methulesi Musoliwa, Sibongile Marks, and Mellissa Marks.
The Court withdrew the murder case against him in 2020, with a possibility of reinstatement. When Diwanga looks back, he cannot fathom the trouble that he was in as a result of the events that led the Police to his doorstep.
Diwanga had admitted on record to having accommodated an individual who would later be directly linked to the murder. The individual had left a trail in Diwanga’s house in Francistown, a piece of paper bearing his names, a day before the offence was committed.
Diwanga had also indicated to Police that the individual he had accommodated was en route to Gaborone to meet certain people, who investigators believed to be the deceased.
Whether he left that piece of paper deliberately to mislead police officers, Diwanga cannot wrap his mind around it. Police on the other hand believed that Diwanga must have been working with the unknown individual who has since been reported to be in Namibia.
Diwanga says it all started on June 8, 2019, when a certain man came to his tuck shop in Francistown and bought some sweets. He then later asked to use his cell phone to call some people who he was scheduled to meet in Gaborone.
Moments after that Diwanga received a call, and noticing that it could be for the unknown drifter, he gave him back the phone to take the call. As though he had not offered enough help, Diwanga further allowed the man to lodge in his house since he had indicated that he did not have accommodation.
Diwanga narrates that once at home, the man further did something suspicious, he asked for his personal details, which he wrote on a piece of paper.
To his utter dismay, when he woke up the next morning, the drifter was nowhere to be found. He quickly realised that his (Diwanga) Omang and other cards, as well as cash in Botswana and Namibian currency, were missing.
The stranger had left some items including, a pair of trousers, a jacket, and a sack behind.
Currently, according to court documents, there is no progress in the application made on the extradition of the accused person who is said to have fled to Namibia.
This week, Diwanga told The Midweek Sun that even though it has been three years now, the arrest has affected his life negatively, and he has been left to pick up the pieces. Firstly, he was not sure that after such bad publicity, his community would welcome him back.
Diwanga shared that before the arrest he was running a tuck shop to sustain his family, wife, and two children aged four and 10.
“I learned that in life only the truth can set you free, even from allegations of any crime. This is what helped me,” says Diwanga, adding that he stuck to the truth.
He reopened his tuck shop three days after his release but though not surprising customers were scarce.
So far, community members are used to the fact that he is back, though in the early days some still feared him. His only confidence was that many knew the kind of person he was, and quickly embraced him back. He also admits that he had low self-esteem as a result of the conditions he was subjected to in his three-month stay in prison.
He is now happy, and grateful that in all the troubles he has endured, his wife and children always supported him. He is also happy that his tuck shop is doing well.
“I encourage anyone who might find themselves in my situation to always trust in God,” he says.
He vividly recalls the confusion that filled his life on that fateful day when he was whisked away in handcuffs like a common criminal. He was to face the wrath of the law for allegedly killing a family of three in Gaborone, Methulesi Musoliwa, Sibongile Marks, and Mellissa Marks.
The Court withdrew the murder case against him in 2020, with a possibility of reinstatement. When Diwanga looks back, he cannot fathom the trouble that he was in as a result of the events that led the Police to his doorstep.
Diwanga had admitted on record to having accommodated an individual who would later be directly linked to the murder. The individual had left a trail in Diwanga’s house in Francistown, a piece of paper bearing his names, a day before the offence was committed.
Diwanga had also indicated to Police that the individual he had accommodated was en route to Gaborone to meet certain people, who investigators believed to be the deceased.
Whether he left that piece of paper deliberately to mislead police officers, Diwanga cannot wrap his mind around it. Police on the other hand believed that Diwanga must have been working with the unknown individual who has since been reported to be in Namibia.
Diwanga says it all started on June 8, 2019, when a certain man came to his tuck shop in Francistown and bought some sweets. He then later asked to use his cell phone to call some people who he was scheduled to meet in Gaborone.
Moments after that Diwanga received a call, and noticing that it could be for the unknown drifter, he gave him back the phone to take the call. As though he had not offered enough help, Diwanga further allowed the man to lodge in his house since he had indicated that he did not have accommodation.
Diwanga narrates that once at home, the man further did something suspicious, he asked for his personal details, which he wrote on a piece of paper.
To his utter dismay, when he woke up the next morning, the drifter was nowhere to be found. He quickly realised that his (Diwanga) Omang and other cards, as well as cash in Botswana and Namibian currency, were missing.
The stranger had left some items including, a pair of trousers, a jacket, and a sack behind.
Currently, according to court documents, there is no progress in the application made on the extradition of the accused person who is said to have fled to Namibia.
This week, Diwanga told The Midweek Sun that even though it has been three years now, the arrest has affected his life negatively, and he has been left to pick up the pieces. Firstly, he was not sure that after such bad publicity, his community would welcome him back.
Diwanga shared that before the arrest he was running a tuck shop to sustain his family, wife, and two children aged four and 10.
“I learned that in life only the truth can set you free, even from allegations of any crime. This is what helped me,” says Diwanga, adding that he stuck to the truth.
He reopened his tuck shop three days after his release but though not surprising customers were scarce.
So far, community members are used to the fact that he is back, though in the early days some still feared him. His only confidence was that many knew the kind of person he was, and quickly embraced him back. He also admits that he had low self-esteem as a result of the conditions he was subjected to in his three-month stay in prison.
He is now happy, and grateful that in all the troubles he has endured, his wife and children always supported him. He is also happy that his tuck shop is doing well.
“I encourage anyone who might find themselves in my situation to always trust in God,” he says.
