Where is Godfrey Mavela

Source : Kutlwano

Author : Kutlwano

Location : Gaborone

Event : Interview

In the dim light of early morning, a sharp rap on the flimsy wooden door jolts Ms Gloria Mavela of Gerald Estate awake. It is 3 a.m. Her heart leaps with a fleeting, agonising hope for a moment: could it be him? Could Godfrey, her son, her provider, finally have returned after an absence that has hollowed out their lives?

The frantic rush to the door is now a ritual, a macabre dance performed countless times since March last year. Each knock, each unexpected sound ignites the same desperate hope, only to be met by the harsh reality of a stranger’s face, be it a delivery driver or a neighbour. The relief that follows the disappointment is short-lived, quickly replaced by the familiar ache of loss.

Godfrey Mavela, a young taxi driver, vanished without a trace last March. He was the cornerstone of their family, the provider upon whom they relied.

Now, silence reigns in the home where his laughter once echoed, a silence punctuated only by the gnawing uncertainty that erodes his family’s peace. Ms Mavela runs a trembling hand through her already disheveled hair. The deep lines etched into her face tell a story of sleepless nights, relentless worry, and grief that refuses to relent.

“Every sound… every knock,” she whispers, her voice barely audible, “feels like a fresh wound being ripped open.”

Yet, the Mavela family, though devastated, clings stubbornly to hope. They are consumed by unanswered questions: Where is he? What happened to him? Will they ever see him again? 

Their home, once vibrant with life’s joys, stands as a poignant testament to their enduring sorrow. Pictures of Godfrey, a bright young man with a contagious smile, adorn the walls, silent witnesses to the family’s desperate vigil.

March 15, 2024, is etched in GMs Mavela’s mind like a brand. On that fateful Friday, Godfrey stayed home when she left for the Ipelegeng programme. When She returned home, her son was missing; he never came back.

“He was a good boy,” she confides, her voice thick with unshed tears. “He would not just vanish. He would not leave without a word.”

The once-comforting sound of his phone ringing now echoes with chilling emptiness. Calls went unanswered, leading to frantic attempts to track him down. Days bled into weeks, with the relentless sun beating down on Ms Mavela’s rising anxiety. She asked her younger son to check the bus rank, hoping that fellow combi drivers might have seen him. Nothing.

Ms Mavela requested the police check on Godfrey’s wife, who admitted to seeing him in town on the day of his disappearance. She said he had asked her for P200 to buy a soft drink. 

Ms Mavela thought the police might glean some information from this encounter; instead, the lack of answers only deepened her distress.

“How can the police not thoroughly investigate this?” Ms Mavela’s voice rises, laced with anger. “There are so many unanswered questions. The way he went missing, it’s like he vanished into thin air. What happened to him?”

Her words hang heavy in the air, a stark indictment of a system that appears to tolerate the disappearance of its citizens. Ms Mavela  believes the police investigation fell short, with crucial pieces missing from the narrative surrounding her son’s life and disappearance.

As the one-year mark since Godfrey’s disappearance approaches next month, his absence is felt like a wound that refuses to heal. Born in 1984, Godfrey is remembered as a devoted family man whose presence now only echoes through memories.

Godfrey’s case is not an isolated one. It is part of a disturbing trend that has plagued the community over the past five years. Minister for the State President, Mr Moeti Mohwasa, acknowledges the rising cases of disappearances, confirming that as of January, there were 87 incidents reported this year, walking a fine line with the 160 reported in the same period last year.

Mr Mohwasa highlighted that most missing persons are teenagers who leave to visit friends without informing their parents or guardians. “Some of these missing persons are found dead, drowned, committed suicide, while some return home in good health. Some have even been found in neighboring countries after being missing for several years.”

He noted that some notable cases have garnered public interest, with the individuals still unaccounted for. Reports have come in from various police stations, including Sowa, Gerald, Pitshane Molopo, Sojwe, Bokspits, Mogoditshane, Rakops, Palapye, Semolale, and Shakawe. As part of potential reforms, the government plans to review its missing persons policies and procedures for better alignment with international best practices.

“The growing number of missing persons cases is a stain on our nation’s conscience,” Ms Mavela  declares passionately. “How can we, as a society, stand by and watch while the fate of our loved ones hangs in the balance? It’s not just about the missing persons; it’s about the families left behind to grieve and the sense of fear gripping our communities.”

The anticipated review will involve a comprehensive examination of existing procedures, focusing on the investigation of missing person reports and supporting families affected by such tragedies. Mr Mohwasa hinted that the review aims to identify shortcomings and implement necessary improvements in locating missing persons, including legislation changes, police training, and enhanced inter-agency coordination.

Meanwhile, the Botswana Police Service Chief Public Relations Officer, Assistant Commissioner, Near Bagali, assured the public that missing persons cases remain open and under continuous investigation. 

Although he declined to comment on specific policy reviews, he expressed serious concerns about the high numbers of unresolved cases, emphasizing their significant attention.

To Ms Mavela, the police’s open case feels more like a condemned sentence, a hollow promise wrapped in bureaucratic language. For her, Godfrey’s disappearance is not just a statistic; it’s an agonising chapter of her life that demands resolution. It’s a story waiting to be answered, a wound that cries out for closure. ENDS