After almost two years living in misery, Maponyane Modumo eventually sighed in great relief as he was discharged from prison in Gaborone back to his loving family and community. 

Though it was a short sentence, the period to him seemed to be ages. For a number of days, he lived an unpleasant life of sleeping on the  concrete floor, being told when to eat and wake up. Even worse, cell life was characterised by the stuffy urinary smell, while mosquitos bit every part of his exposed skin as his heart kept him awake at night yearning for the warmth of his loving family and community. After all, he comes from a small beautiful hilly village of Mogonye in the Southern District, which is nestled amongst the beauties of nature. 

“Bra yaka, life in prison is hell, ga go monate gotlhelele,” he said, as he looked to the skies for a moment, and looked down to the rocky ground, which seemed to release some strength for his narration. 

“You know hell? I do not wish that life on anyone,” he emphasised. 

He said prison life was tough to endure, and only the strong-willed emerged undeterred and restored, and focused to shred the stubborn indignity of having been imprisoned. After his release, Modumo made a vow never to lay a hand on a woman again, a contravention which had led to his inprisonment.

It all started sometime in June 2019, after he traced his footsteps back to his home in Mogonye from Mogoditshane, where he grew and schooled up to junior secondary school, but could not proceed due to poor performance. In Mogonye, Modumo started a life as a bricklayer, plumber and tiler, which are crafts he learnt on the job. 

Years passed and he eventually fell in love with a fellow Mogonye resident, which unfortunately became a turning point of his life. Just as when the affair flourished, he realised that the lady was keeping a secret affair, hence a fracas ensued, only to be calmed by a friend and peace eventually prevailed. 

“After some time I realised she was still keeping the same affair. I ended up ke mo tsenya letsogo,” adding that the lady fell on a rock and sustained a head injury. 

Traumatised and fearful, Modumo hurried to report himself to the police and he was taken in custody. He was charged with unlawful wounding and found guilty by a magistrate who imposed upon him a two-year imprisonment term, hence he was incarcerated at the Gaborone Prison, where he spent a year and six months and was released on good conduct. 

“Prison life is hell,” he said, adding that drug smuggling, gangsterism and same sex relations are common there. 

However, those involved in the dirty dealings keep them away from the probing eyes of prison officials, as those caught flouting the rules face the full wrath of the law. 

“Those who hurt me the most are those from poor families or without families or friends to buy them toiletry, they are being taken advantage of,” he said, adding that some are ensnared into same sex relationships in exchange for monetary assistance. 

However, he said stories of forced sexual encounters, drugs and gangsters are exaggerated, as prison is a community like another where humans do err. While in prison, Modumo took time to reflect on his anger and decided to persue the route of peace. 

“I reached out to the victim through prison officers,” he said, adding that the effort bore fruits as the lady eventually forgave him and even visited him while in prison. 

Although they were no longer in a relationship, the two even attended counseling sessions together organised by the prison services to foster and cement their reconciliation efforts. 

“We are friends now, if I need help I can call her and she can likewise do the same,” he said. 

Although forgiven by the victim, the same cannot be said about the society, which continues to reject and persecute him, to the extent of labelling him a thug while some tell him to his face that he is an undesirable member of the society. 

“You cannot force the community to accept you and you cannot buy them to accept you,” he said, and stated that there are instances where some parents reprimand their children for associating with him. 

Rejected by his own people, he said that has also affected his income opportunities as someone who lives on casual works such as plumbing, tiling and bricklaying works, because many snub his services. However, he is strengthened by few individuals who embrace him as well as his family, his church and the village royals, who often call him to share his wisdom and counsel with the youth. The leadership of the Roman Catholic Church has been his support, although some members are uncomfortable with him. 

Despite the rejections and his rough past life, Modumo, who lives with his parents, remains steadfast to build a life after prison and wishes to find someone to start a family with, while he keeps in contact with Botswana Prison Services for guidance and awaiting them to assist him to attain a qualification as an artisan. ENDS