Zimbabwe has engaged the Botswana government to bring
closure to the fatal shooting of a Beitbridge man by that country’s soldiers on
Friday morning.
Gift Nyoni, from Number 12 area in Shashe, west of the
border town, was reportedly shot dead by soldiers on patrol who came across him
and two others at the confluence of the Limpopo and Shashe Rivers (Shalimpo)
which divides Botswana, South Africa and Zimbabwe.
The deceased was coming from South Africa and walking on a
foot path in the company of Trymore Ndlovu and Justice Dube, all in their early
20s, when tragedy struck at around 8am.
His two colleagues, Ndlovu and Dube, have been charged for
trespassing and border jumping and are still detained at Bubonong Police
station.
It is reported that Nyoni’s body was taken to a mortuary in
the same area (Bubonong) pending a postmortem.
Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to Botswana, Mr Henry Mukonoweshuro
said yesterday that they had since engaged the host through its Ministry of
International Affairs and Coopetition and that of police to get closure on the
shooting.
“We have since contacted the host Government over the issue
taking into cognisance the good relations between the two governments and the
need to protect and preserve human lives,” he said.
“The issue is now being investigated by both the military
and the police and we are looking forward to get feedback from them.
“We have also requested that they should conduct a
postmortem on the deceased’s remains to ascertain the cause of death.
“According to initial reports from the Botswana Defence
Forces, they are alleging that they shot at the three when they tried to flee
and evade arrest at an undesignated crossing point at Shalimpo.”
The Ambassador said they were looking forward to the
finalisation of the matter.
He said though Ndlovu and Dube had been charged they were
yet to appear in a court of law.
Mr Mukonoweshuro said the issue of the shooting of stray
livestock from Botswana was still being discussed through the Bi-National
Commission (BNC).
“We have heard about cases where stray livestock is shot
here as a way of controlling the spread of foot-and-mouth,” said the
Ambassador.
“As a government we are aware of the importance of
livestock as a source of livelihood to many people, hence we are working to get
a final solution to this problem through the Bi-National Commission.
“In the meantime, we proposed that they drive stray animals
back to Zimbabwe and hold them at a designated place while efforts are made
through official channels to have an amicable solution.”
Beitbridge Rural District Council, chairperson, Luka Ndou,
who is also the councillor for Shashe area (Ward 8) said yesterday that the
community was devastated by the shooting of Nyoni.
He said recently, the Tswanas shot and killed 106 cattle
and 63 donkeys belonging to local villagers.
“This is a double loss for us as a community and people are
calling for justice to prevail. We have lost one person, 106 cattle and 63
donkeys to shootings by the military in a short space of time.
“We have taken up the issue with our national police,” said
a livid Cllr Ndou. Chronicle
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