Zimbabwean man shot, killed in Botswana

By Sukulwenkosi Dube

A ZIMBABWEAN man was shot and killed by a Botswana businessman while his accomplice has been arrested after they allegedly tried to steal from his shop.

According to Botswana police, the two Zimbabwean men tried to break into a grocery shop in Tutume at the weekend.

The owner of the shop was reportedly alerted by people who saw the two men trying to break into his shop through a locked door.

The businessman, whose name could not be ascertained, armed himself with a gun and shot Khulumani Moyo on the chest killing him on the spot.

With the assistance of his fellow Batswana nationals, the businessman apprehended Moyo’s partner Cosmas Tshuma and handed him over to the police.

The businessman in a bid to justify his actions said he confronted the two Zimbabwean men when he found them inside his shop after they had tampered with the door lock.

He said they tried to attack him forcing him to fire shots at them.

Moyo and Tshuma are suspected to have illegally crossed into Botswana through an undesignated point on Sunday morning.

They struck at the shop in the evening on the same day.

A local police source said the two Zimbabwean men are believed to be from Tsholotsho, although investigations were underway to locate the late Moyo’s relatives.

The source said investigations were being carried out in the neighbouring country to ascertain the circumstances surrounding Moyo’s death.

“We received communication from our Botswana counterparts although they’ve not furnished us with full details, that a Zimbabwean man was shot and killed at the weekend while trying to break into a shop and his accomplice has been arrested.

“We suspect that both men are from Tsholotsho and efforts are being made to locate Moyo’s relatives,” said the source.

Several Zimbabweans have in recent months been shot after being caught on the wrong side of the law in the neighbouring country. In August, 40-year-old Qhawe Moyo who is from Nkedile in Mangwe District died after he was shot by Botswana police in a suspected case of smuggling.

Last month 23-year-old Alters Ndebele of Tshankwa area in Bulilima District was shot and wounded by Botswana soldiers who caught him trying to enter the neighbouring country through an illegal point.

They later dumped him at a bush where he was picked up by passersby who took him to hospital. The Chronicle