- Lobatse MP was arrested in connection with the murder of Karema
- He blames BDP factions for his arrest
SESUPO RANTSIMAKO
The embattled Member of Parliament (MP) for Lobatse, Dr Tebogo Matsheka, is reportedly facing suspension from the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) for allegedly being an accomplice in the murder of young Tlotso Karema.
The former cabinet minister was arrested and detained in a combined operation of the Directorate of the Intelligence and Security Service (DISS) and Botswana Police Service (BPS) for interrogation pertaining to the allegations last week.
Although he was released after five days in detention, sources within the BDP say like the MP for Nata/Gweta Polson Majaga, it is a matter of time before Matsheka is slapped with suspension.
Majaga was suspended for 60 days when he faced charges of sexual harassment and rape last year. The suspension was lifted after he was acquitted. “Very soon the party will take action against Matsheka because the allegations he is facing cannot be taken lightly,” said a source.
Innocent until proven guilty
Quizzed about this, BDP spokesman Kagelelo Kentse stated that they will only act once a charge has been preferred against Matsheka, adding that the party takes the allegations seriously but must uphold the fundamental principle of “innocent until proven guilty”.
“The process is that the party only acts once a charge has been preferred,” Kentse stated.
However, he dismissed suggestions by Matsheka that his arrest stemmed from party factions. “The BDP is not empowered to arrest or charge any individual,” he noted. “The MP is the only one who can shed more light on what happened.”
Matsheka blamed BDP factions and a political witch hunt for his arrest when he was released last Sunday. He said he would make a detailed statement about his arrest in due course.