Bobonong’s Most Wanted ‘Serial Rapist’ Nabbed

Bobonong’s most wanted alleged serial rapist, Lesedi Marope popularly known as Ghoro in the Bobirwa area is finally behind bars.

The 38-year-old Marope was nabbed on Thursday in the outskirts of Tobane village following a four-day police manhunt.

Initially, the Bobonong native was behind bars for alleged series of rape charges that had left women in the Bobirwa area reeling in shock following his recent escape from Selebi-Phikwe State Prison.

Confirming his arrest, the District Criminal Investigation Department (CID) officer, Detective Superintendent Obert Stone told The Monitor that Marope was arrested in the thickets heading east towards Bobonong.

Stone stated that Marope, who was serving a 20-year jail term for rape, robbery and housebreaking at a Mahalapye prison was recently transferred to Selebi-Phikwe State Prison for a court appearance in yet another Bobonong rape case he allegedly committed whilst on bail.

“The Rasetimela ward inhabitant escaped from prison on August 9 around 2:30am and a search that led to his arrest was launched. Following his escape, Marope got into a certain yard in BCL houses and stole clothes hanging on the washing line.

His escape had left people, especially women, reeling in shock because he has been terrorising women in the Bobirwa area,” he said.

Rape remains the country’s nightmare as women live in deep fear of the terror. Botswana has long been facing a gender-based violence crisis with one in three women reported having experienced abuse in their lifetime, according to the 2018 National Relationship Study. The World Population Review (2019) has also placed Botswana as the second highest country in the world on rape cases at 92.9 per 100,000 citizens.

Concerned by the escalating rape cases, the Ministry of Defence, Justice and Security plans to amend the Penal Code to increase the penalty for anyone found guilty of rape.

The ministry proposes those rape charged be subjected to a conviction sentence of a minimum term of 20 years imprisonment or a maximum term of life imprisonment.

During the country’s first ever lockdown last year April, the police recorded 22 cases of rape and 23 for defilement.

Out of the 22 rape cases, seven of them involved children aged between two and 13 years as alleged victims were raped by their close family members.

Then, police had established that close relatives such as brothers, cousins, fathers and stepfathers were the perpetrators.