Justice will not make me get my arms back- Botswana shooting victim

Two years after surviving gun shot wounds that blew both his arms away, Zimbabwean Gift Ncube again came face to face with his brutal employer when the two met in court on Monday last week.

Keitumetse Khonou (39) is accused of attempted murder, but claims he acted in self - defence.

The father of two still has a bullet in his chest and has had both his arms amputated after being shot four times from close range.

Gift, who wears a tag around his neck with the inscription 'Jesus,' told the court: "It's just through God's grace that I am still alive. The man's intention was to kill me."

Gift's plight received worldwide attention after shocking details of the assault were reported exclusively in The Voice in August 2013.

Although an illegal immigrant at the time he was granted permission to stay in the country after the authorities reconsidered their original decision to deport him.

Since then he has been given accommodation and financial help from well-wishers both at home and abroad.

Describing the circumstances that led to the shooting he told how he had been in dispute with his employer after he refused to pay him an amount of P3400 for work done clearing two and half hectares of land at Khonou's field in Radisele village.

He said things turned sour after finishing the job, and without notice Khonou instructed him to vacate the house he was renting from him. Gift explained that when he asked for his payment, Khonou only offered to pay him P200.

"I refused to take the money and told the man that he was a crook. When warned that I was going to report him to the police, he said if I try I would be arrested since I am an illegal migrant."

Gift nevertheless reported the matter on a Friday evening, but police told him to come back on Monday since it was the weekend.

Returning home he met his infuriated employer brandishing a firearm. The gun was produced in court as an exhibit as Gift told the court: "It happened so fast.

"His first shot grazed me on the forehead after I managed to duck when seeing that the man was advancing pointing a gun at me. He then loaded the gun again and fired for second time and the bullet caught me on my left arm."

Gift went on to say that Khonou took the third bullet from a belt around his waist and shot again shattering his right arm.

"The fourth and final shoot at close rage hit me on my chest and I fell down."

He said although he survived, the shooting had turned him from an able person to a complete beggar who could not do anything for himself.

"My life is totally ruined since I can no longer do any simple job with no hands. I now live through donations."

Khonou meanwhile has pleaded not guilty to the charge of attempted murder.

His lawyer Kgololesego Segabo told the court that his client acted in self-defence, claiming Ncube was armed with an okapi knife at the time of shooting.

He also applied for the case to be adjourned and asked for an inspection of the piece of land where the incident took place.

Following the inspection in Radisele on Tuesday, Justice Judge Zabani Makhwade adjourned the matter to September when the prosecution is expected to call three more witnesses.

Outside court Ncube said while he believes in the country's justice system, sending Khonou to prison would only act as a deterrent.

"It won't bring my arms back. Yes if convicted he should be punished accordingly, but I won't benefit from that unless he is ordered to pay me."