37-year- old Samora Motlhagodi
Man who questioned Khama fears for his safety…
A man who publicly questioned President Ian Khama ‘s decision to pardon soldiers that were convicted for murder has expressed serious fears for his life. 37-year- old Samora Motlhagodi of Pilane village in the Kgatleng district has been so afraid for his safety that he has since approached two SADC embassies to seek political asylum in the region.
Motlhagodi’s troubles started about a month ago when he shocked a packed kgotla meeting by confronting President Khama on his decision to pardon three soldiers who killed a civilian, John Kalafatis in a fatal police operation two years ago.
“We were shocked when you pardoned Kalafatis’ killers. I fear God and I fear murder. Of all the convicted criminals, the President chose to forgive murderers. What message was he trying to send to us as a nation? Was he trying to tell us that it is right for soldiers to gun down an unarmed civilian?” Motlhagodi had asked before he added: “I have one request though. After this question, may I continue to live.”
This week the terrified former police officer walked into The Voice offices in Gaborone to speak of how he has lived in constant fear since the day he made those controversial remarks.
“Ever since I asked that question I have been followed and certain friends and relatives have been warned not to communicate with me, “ Motlhagodi said.
He further claimed that although the President did not respond to his question and request during the kgotla meeting, when shaking hands with him afterwards, he had told him that he knew who he was and where he used to work.” Motlhagodi said he became concerned for his safety when one of the Presidential security agents later warned him that his life was in danger.
“The agent claimed that President Khama suspected I was sent by the opposition parties to humiliate and embarrass him at that Kgotla meeting.” Describing the events that convinced him that attempts were being made on his life, Motlhagodi said: “As a trained cop I should know when I am being followed. When I escaped attempted kidnapping by a man dressed in a Muslim woman’s garb a few days ago it became very apparent that my life was indeed in danger.”
He maintained that following the attempted kidnapping incident coupled with a number of villagers who suggested that unless he apologised to the President his life would continue to be in danger, he was left with no choice but to seek asylum.
“ If I was to be granted asylum before I leave I would like to let the President know that when I asked that question, I was not fighting him and I was not sent by anyone. I would like him to know that if it were not for the threats I would have asked four more questions because my intention was not to embarrass anyone but to simply seek answers,” Motlhagodi stated.
Asked whether by confronting the President again he would not be inviting more trouble, he said: “We are all cowards. But I am one of the cowards who choose to stand up and say, Mr President you scare us.”
Meanwhile Motlhagodi awaits response from the Embassies in regard to his asylum application.
frnt
Lona banna le tswelela ka go batla go senya leina la Botswana. Why did you ask those sensitive questions during a kgotla meeting? Fa o bona o paletswe ke sepodise go raya gore le wena o na le mokgwa, o bitter e bile o lenyatso mo go HE.Criminal
ole lepodisi gao itse gore HE ona le dithata tsago itshwarela magolegwa tsedi kaha molaong, one o botsa ka maikaelelo ebile lenna nkare o romilwe, kgang gore obo ore okopa go tshela frm there etswa kae if this was jus an innocent qsn, osiame
phomphokgo yo maithukutho mabe o fatlhwa ke diphuka ele tsa gagwe….
Ke lela le wena rre Motlhagodi, malatsi a if you question you are inviting trouble. Ke gore ba batla go itirelela fela ba sa botswe gore go diragala eng. Ke tla go rapelela monna wa Modimo.
O seka wa wara Motlhagodi,whether you live or die.You only wanted to talk about the elephant in the room.You will be remembered becos you had the cojones unlike some people.
When i was in primary school i was taught that the president has the prerogative of mercy. Mo motho a sa itseng this power ya ga tautona e bile ele lepodisi or former lepodisi ga ke tlhaloganye. A ga se makgakga?
Makgakga le lonyatso mo botsading
This guy had an ulterior motive. Probably he wants fame or politics.
Ao ao le a bo le reng jaanog…go phoso go botsa.
kante do some of you have a problem of understanding? We all know and I believe even Motlhagodi knows that the pres has those powers, tsa go itshwarela. What seems to be the problem is the manner in which these guys were treated.
arrest my comment..
Very Strange “security agents later warned him that his life was in danger.
If they are not doing this -they are demolishing peoples homes and throwing them out into the cold inclding orphans”
Batswana re na le bothata jwa go sa dirisa kgololesego e re nang le yone sentle. Re sego re kgona go kopana le tautona wa rona, go mo kgala, go mo tshwara ka mabogo, jalo jalo. And yet, we take all this for granted. Kwa mafatsheng a mangwe, uttering those words would have landed you in prison before that kgotla meeting ended.
wa peka o mae,kante ke eng le tlwaela khama jaana? o botsa mogolo dilo mang,le rata poko thata.ha o bata go tlhagelela mo btv o vaele ko mokaragana eseng go botsa mogolo dilo tseo,gape stil if u cud get an ansa there is nuthin u can do…ekare ba ka go shenola
This is where alot of energy is WASTED on NEGATIVE things like this-very common on the african continent.
One asks if they are doing this on instructions or without anyone knowing – including the incident on the homes that were demolished – no sane person would do this
Ah nna ke belaela mogolo a fosa, tautona ogo reile are oa go itse ebile o itse ko o neng o bereka teng…not very likely. N security argents warned u…haha now they are following u haha. Man if they wanted to snatch u why would they even warn u. Omo the cover of the voice mme ware u r fearful for ur life and apparently u r running scared haha. mogolo nna fa fatshe. togela go fosa, kana paranoia
Nonsense! This guy needs to grow up! No grown-up should be so pathetic as to fear the president! He is naive enough to believe crap! No wonder he comes up with this! He should relax and live his life!
Mr Motlhagodi o rraagwe mang? U r a disgrace to ur family, children le bakgatla ba ga kgafela. Ga wa peipa tota?
Motlhagodi o ipatela attention
All of you guys are taking this for grunted why do we have freedom of speech if we do not exercise it? i am sure gore gagona ope wa lona yo skeng a bua are Khama o rile khama o rile you just goin to keep quiet le ntse le bona digap on some issues..monna yo ne a botsa
can the guy proove that people have been sent to kill him and who did it… @blacklist teller.. yes he was askin, no body said he iwas wrong, but not being answerd does not mean tht anyone wants to kill him… he knows he was not supposd to ask such things, knw he s threatning himself nd he feels insercur becoz he lost
xwww! attention seeker! a former police officer without manners…you should have come up with a better approach rra, no wonder o paletswe ke sepodisi ke gone go wela batho porogo hela jaana. o bua kabo asylum…batla tiro kwa sekopa ke wena o lese go batla go spoon feediwa ole motsofe.
aaah! i hope u stil alive my man u did the odds,kana rona w believe gore dnt ask dnt tell bt u kip it goin…….did u expect gore tautona a ntshe sepirin….. believe in wht u hear yep its true…..dos guys were………to go k……..yep dats right u got it right…..