30/05/2026
THE STRANGER, THE STOLEN IDENTITY AND BOTSWANA'S TRIPLE MURDER MYSTERY
The 2019 Tsholofelo East triple murder remains one of Botswana's most shocking criminal cases. Three people Methulesi Musoliwa, Sibongile Marks and Mellissa Marks were found murdered in Gaborone, prompting a major police investigation that eventually led authorities to Kativa Diwanga. However, Diwanga consistently denied any involvement and claimed he became linked to the case through a stranger he had met days before the killings. According to his account, the man arrived at his tuck shop in Francistown, bought sweets and asked to use his cellphone to contact people he claimed he was supposed to meet in Gaborone.
Diwanga told the court that after speaking on the phone, the visitor informed him that he had nowhere to sleep. Out of kindness, he allowed the man to spend the night at his home. He further claimed that the stranger requested his personal details, including his name and cellphone number, and wrote them down on a piece of paper. The following morning, the man had disappeared. Diwanga alleged that clothes he had worn the previous night were missing together with his wallet, which contained his Omang, driver's licence, bank cards and cash. Believing he had been robbed, he reported the matter to Tatitown Police Station.
Investigators later linked Diwanga to the murders after reportedly finding a paper bearing his name and cellphone number inside the deceased's vehicle. Phone records also allegedly showed calls made from his cellphone to one of the deceased. However, the case took another turn when investigators traced Tanzanian national Thomas Gilala to Namibia. According to court records and media reports, Namibian authorities allegedly found Gilala in possession of items linked to the deceased, including several cellphones and a camouflage jacket identified by a relative of one of the victims. Botswana authorities subsequently sought his extradition to face proceedings connected to the case.
Throughout the investigation, Diwanga maintained that Gilala was a complete stranger and not a friend, relative or business associate. He argued that the man had used his cellphone, obtained his personal details and stolen his identity documents before disappearing, ultimately placing him at the centre of the investigation. The charges against Diwanga were later withdrawn, although authorities reserved the right to reinstate them if new evidence emerged. Years later, the case continues to generate debate, with some believing the evidence raised legitimate suspicions while others remain convinced that Diwanga was an innocent man caught up in circumstances beyond his control.
are your thoughts on this case? Do you believe Diwanga was an innocent man caught in unfortunate circumstances, or do you think investigators had sufficient grounds to suspect him? Share your views respectfully in the comments and let's discuss this intriguing case.
follow
Batswana Podcast Tv show with Boi
