Two weeks after the devastating news of the death of Chawapa Thabo who allegedly committed suicide in Windhoek, Namibia, his ex-wife and family are in a bitter fight over his property.
The 54-year-old Botswana Open University Coordinator, Southern Africa Development Community, Centre for Distance Education- died while on a trip at the invitation of Botswana Ambassador to Namibia on November 4th.
At the time of his death, Thabo and his wife Silvia Thabo nee Moalosi had been granted a decree nisi for their divorce which was issued on the 23rd of September by Justice Tshepo Motswagole of the Gaborone High Court.
According to the court order, the decree nisi was to be made absolute after 6 weeks.
Thabo died on the last day of the 6th week.
This past Thursday while Thabo’s body was still lying in a mortuary in Windhoek pending post-mortem, Silvia went to his house in Ledumadumane demanding to be given the deceased’s property.
Thabo’s sister, Shanganani Lisenda and other family members refused and showed Silvia the court order that indicates that she is divorced.
Silvia then immediately rushed to court and filed an urgent application before Justice Michael Leburu.
This Monday, Lisenda and the deceased’s niece- Mmabaledi Thabo, appeared in court opposing Silvia’s application.
Unfortunately the other defendant Wanani Thabo who is also the deceased’s niece had not filed her defence as she stays in Maun and was served late on Sunday.
Judge Leburu ordered that Wanani be given a chance to file her defence before the end of business today (Tuesday).
Lisenda and Mmabaledi did not object to that. The matter will resume tomorrow (Wednesday) at 9:30am.
More details to follow.
