Bogus Botswana ID lands Zimbabwean man in court

Gaborone - A Gaborone court on Tuesday denied a Zimbabwean national a request to change his plea after he allegedly made a false statement that led to him obtaining a Botswana national identity card nearly three years ago.

The accused William Zambe, 39, made the request in the Extension 2 Magistrate's Court in Gaborone on Tuesday.

Zambe had already pleaded not guilty to the offence.

Senior magistrate Abigal Maswawi said he could not give him a second chance to plead.

According to the charge sheet, Zambe is alleged to have, on 24 April 2012, at the labour and home affairs department, made a false declaration before the commissioner of oaths in order to obtain a duplicate of a Botswana identity card that was subsequently granted.