Mmegi/The Reporter (Gaborone)

Botswana: 'Big Shots' Case Postponed

22 August 2008


Lobatse — A case involving big shots in Botswana that was scheduled to start before High Court Justice Unity Dow yesterday was postponed to a later date to be decided by the court.

With only a certain Manyepedza, an attorney for the applicants, and a few members of the press, and absence of defence attorneys, the case was a boring event contrary to expectations. Manyepedza presented a document to Justice Dow, saying that the parties have met, but the matter remains unresolved.

He said that the meeting between the parties that was scheduled for next Monday (August 25) be adjourned to a later date pending the final determination of an action or application to be instituted by the applicants for the relief. In the court order, the meeting shall be convened before the elapse of seven days from Wednesday.

"The action or application referred to in paragraph one of this order to be instituted by service of the initiating process thereof being effected upon Respondents at the address of their attorneys of record within 30 calendar days calculated from August 20 2008," the order reads in part.

The case involves former president Festus Mogae, Chief Justice Julian Nganunu, former permanent secretaries, former ambassadors, and prominent businessmen all pitted against each other in a bitter fight for money and shares. It arose after a high level deal went awry leaving top figures facing-off in legal proceedings.

In one corner are the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) deputy treasurer and former minister, Charles Tibone, and renowned businessman and one of Mogae's confidantes, Lawrence Lekalake.

In the opposing camp are Mogae himself, Chief Justice Julian Nganunu, Legwaila Legwaila, businessman, Sam Mpuchane, McClean Letshwiti, Nkobiwa Sebele, Goabaone Mokama, Tshipa Mothibatsela, Ludo Makhwade, Letlhogonolo Dabutha, Alfred Dube, Dikokole Mosinyi, and Dzene Makhwade-Seboni.

There is also Kgarebe Investments owned by Aloysius Kgarebe, JDM Investments - a company owned by Nganunu and his son Dziki, - the two of them have deponed supporting affidavits - Letshwao Investments owned by Lesego Selotate and Lawrence Khupe, FGM Investments of Mogae, San Safaris of Emang Maphanyane, and Tsela Alliance represented by Matenge Matenge.

Be the first to Write a Comment!

More News on allAfrica.com

Copyright © 2008 Mmegi/The Reporter. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.

AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.

AllAfrica - All the Time

SELECT
SELECT

Most Active Stories: Botswana

Topics