A ZIMBABWEAN man was recently allegedly shot by Botswana soldiers before being arrested while conducting illegal gold panning activities in that country.
This emerged when the Zimbabwean illegal miner, Mbongeni Mkandla (22), appeared in a Botswana court while walking with the aid of crutches on Thursday.
Media reports from Botswana state that Mkandla was injured on the left knee.
Before appearing in court, he revealed that he had been shot during his arrest at the mining area.
“I was shot at the mining area by the soldiers,” Mklandla was quoted saying.
Matsiloje Station Commander, Superintendent Oteng Ngada also told the media that Mkandla was injured during his arrest at the old mines.
“The accused, along with 12 others who fled when soldiers arrived, was allegedly found mining gold last Wednesday at the Matsiloje Old Mines. He was left behind and arrested,” Ngada told the media.
The police chief stated that a scuffle broke out during Mkandla’s arrest, resulting in his injury and indications were that investigations were still ongoing to establish the cause of the injury.
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Following his injury, Mkandla had been hospitalised at Nyangabgwe Referral Hospital before his court appearance.
He is being charged with two offences, that of illegal mining and entering Botswana through an ungazetted point of entry.
In court, Mkandla pleaded guilty to border jumping, but his plea on the mining charge was deferred.
State prosecutor Chilume Mpena opposed the granting of Mkandla bail indicating that since he is an irregular immigrant, he has high chances of being a flight risk and may disappear back to his country.
He was further remanded in custody for sentence on the irregular entry into Botswana charge and for a plea recording on the illegal mining charge.
