Zimbabwean battered to death in Botswana

A YOUNG family has been left distraught and emotionally marooned in Australia following the battering to death of their father in Botswana early this month.
Zimbabwean engineer Stephen Ticharwa, 40, died in Gaborone last Thursday after suffering blunt force trauma to the head after being repeatedly bludgeoned with a log.
His face was also severely lacerated with broken bottles following an argument over a yet to be explained issue with work colleagues.

Brutally murdered ... Stephen Ticharwa

  Perpetrators of the attack, some of them believed to be Zimbabwean, have since fled to neighbouring South Africa following the brutal murder.

One of the suspected fugitives Botswana police are reportedly keen to interview has been identified as Philip Mukombe.

While there was no immediate comment from authorities in Gaborone, the family has since confirmed that Stephen’s body was still in Botswana awaiting repatriation to Zimbabwe for burial.

“Indeed the family is in crisis and mourners are currently gathered in Westgate in Zimbabwe,” said a family spokesperson.

“We are terribly pained at the loss of Stephen, particularly after he had said he was raising money to have his children visit him for Christmas at the end of this year.
“His eldest had just started University, studying mechanical engineering in Australia and they were looking forward to meeting and having precious father and son moments as he was also an engineer by profession.”
Compounding complications surrounding the tragedy is the fact that Ticharwa’s children and his ex-wife are stranded in Australia where they are based.
The three children have since launched an online appeal for assistance to cover the costs of travelling to Zimbabwe for their father’s funeral.
Said the eldest son Tinashe: “Our father was murdered in Botswana on 6 March 2014. This is a tragedy that caught us unaware. We hear his body is in Botswana.
“I am 19 and my brother and sister are 16 and 13. I had just started University. My mother is a single woman who has been struggling for our upkeep.
“Friends have come to pay tributes and thank you. We are appealing for your support to help us go bury our father. Whatever amount we get from you would be helpful and airlines have offered us discounted fares.”