I am being targeted – Moatlhodi
Following his attack by alleged criminals Monday evening, Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, Pono Moatlhodi suspect someone might be after his life. Moatlhodi was attacked by three unknown thugs few metres from his home gate, leaving him with head injuries. On the fateful evening, Moatlhodi claims he had just left Parliament at the end of business and chose to walk home as part of his evening workouts.
Whilst walking home, ‘PPP’ as Moatlhodi is affectionately known, said a red vehicle sped past him and shortly returned when he was about 10 metres away from his residential gate. Moatlhodi added that the vehicle occupants assaulted and pounced on him. Even though home invasion incidents and petty crime remain a concern in the Greater Gaborone as people are attacked and robbed on a daily basis, Moatlhodi suspects the attack on him was intentional and not random.
“This was not a random attack, I was violently assaulted and I can smell a rat. I strongly believe this is a politically motivated attack. I am old enough to be those boys’ grandfather, why would they choose to attack me? Besides, who would attack me, I am a well known person, ga gona yo o sa itseng Rraagwe Nkamo, batho bao ba ne ba romilwe (I am a public figure and people know me as Rraagwe Nkamo. Those people were sent to harm me). I am a politician and I suspect some of my colleagues in politics might be behind this especially that we are fast approaching the General Election,” Moatlhodi said. He said he was rescued by his neighbour one Mosa and his security guard who fought and overpowered the thugs. Narrating what transpired to a local online publication, Tonota legislator said he was still chatting to his neighbour when two men attacked him.
“A Honda Fit vehicle that had sped past me few minutes back quickly drove and parked near me. Two occupants alighted from the car and one of them charged towards saying ‘bring, bring, bring’ not knowing what he wanted. As I was still confused the young man suddenly hit me with a stone on my forehead and I fell down hitting the nearby screen wall with the back of my head,” he said. He added that while he was still lying on the ground half conscious, he saw his female neighbour and the security guard fighting off the thugs and consequently forcing a retreat as the assailants sped off using the same car.
“By God’s grace they failed to do what they had planned. Luckily, they also failed to steal anything from me. I only sustained minor injuries and I was treated and released the same evening. I am traumatised, we are no longer safe,” he said.
Officer commanding, Senior Superintendent
Theriso Thatayotlhe confirmed to be investigating the matter stating that investigations are ongoing to locate the unknown culprits who are still at large.
“The Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly was recently attacked by criminals who in the process injured him and we have since launched investigations to locate and arrest the suspects.
He narrated to have been attacked by three men who were driving a red Honda Fit vehicle without plate numbers and we have been questioning people driving similar cars and have been hitting a snag,” Thatayotlhe said.
Thatayotlhe said luckily they did not steal from him and he was treated for minor injuries and was released the same evening. He further stated that petty crime remains rampant in his policing area pleading with members of the public to be on the lookout.
As a cause for concern, the police have over the years been struggling to contain petty crime, which include smash and grab and home invasions that continue to spiral out of control in the Greater Gaborone as people live in constant fear of criminals. Last year, the Minister of Health, Edwin Dikoloti was also attacked and injured by thugs around 8pm near the Total Filling Station. The thugs had broken the vehicle’s windows, scratched him with a sharp object on his hands and leg and escaped the crime scene without robbing him.