The government of Botswana has dismissed as false reports saying that Gaborone police sexually assaulted and later killed a Zimbabwean woman.
In a statement issued on the 2nd of June, Botswana says police have arrested and are questioning a 37-year-old Zimbabwean man over the circulation of false information.
We present the statement in full below.
Police arrest a suspect for publishing false information on social media
Gaborone West police are questioning a 37-year-old Zimbabwean man in relation to false information circulating through social media networks since Sunday (31/05/2020). This follows audio messages that have been circulating purporting that sorne police officers at Gaborone West Police Station raped a Zimbabwean female illegal immigrant and later killed her husband on Sunday (31/05/2020).
We would like to categorically and unequivocally state that the allegations are misleading and malicious. The truth of the matter is that we the police have never registered a case of such nature at Gaborone West Police Station or anywhere in the country.
The police would like to caution members of the public to desist from publishing misleading statements through the use of social media and other mediums of communication intended to cause panic, fear and alarm to the public.
The public is further reminded to observe the provisions of the Cybercrime and Computer related Act as failure to do so attracts stringent penalties.
D.H. Motube (Assistant Commissioner of Po(ice) Public Relations Officer
