Morupisi to leave public service
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Permanent Secretary to the President (PSP), Carter Morupisi who is currently on suspension on alleged corruption and abuse of office charges, will leave his office at the end of February.
Elias Magosi, who has been holding the fort on acting basis is expected to assume PSP responsibilities on permanent basis, sources close to the development have confirmed. President Mokgweetsi Masisi suspended Morupisi in September 2019, the day after the latter made his first appearance in court. Last year saw many prominent government officials face the wrath of the law. Morupisi together with his wife Pinny Morupisi were among the scalps, with the couple accused conjointly with common interest in corruption, abuse of office, receiving bribery and money laundering.
Despite his immediate suspension that was embraced by many including unions who regarded Morupisi as an “enemy”, he remained on full salary pay. His multiple court appearances bore no fruit, so much so that his attorneys accused the government and The Directorate on Public Prosecutions (DPP) together with The Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC) of rushing to court on half-baked cases, a trend which saw many other high profiled cases slog before the courts.
Morupisi commenced his public service as Assistant Animal Production Officer in the Ministry of Agriculture in 1982, rising through the ranks to the head of the civil service. In 2011, Morupisi was appointed Director of Directorate of Public Service Management (DPSM), before assuming the PSP post in 2014. The suspended PSP became the public face of the divisions between the new administration and former President, Lt Gen Ian Khama.
Morupisi also took Khama head-on at one point when he revealed that government had bent backwards on many occasions and even broken the law to accommodate the former President’s post-retirement requests. This was revealed at a time when the feud between the former President and the current administration had taken its toll. As Morupisi leaves office, Magosi will now be elevated as substantive head of civil service.
It is believed that, Magosi was being groomed to succeed Morupisi. Magosi was appointed to the newly created Deputy Permanent Secretary to the President (PSP) following Masisi’s ascendance to the throne. Magosi who has also acted as PSP at the Ministry of Transport and Communications joined the Office of the President in April 2019, he also served as Director, Human Resources and Administration at the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Secretariat. Morupisi declined to comment when reached for comment on Thursday.
MORUPISI’S CORRUPTION CHARGES
Morupisi faces three counts relating to his involvement in the misuse of the P500 million from the Botswana Public Officers Pension Fund (BPOPF). He is accused of administering BPOF funds as a private equity manager and in the process procuring valuable consideration for himself and his wife. He is further accused of accepting bribery contrary to Section 26 of Corruption and Economic Crime Act.
The suspended PSP is accused of acting together with his wife in her personal capacity and as the Director of R7 Group, to receive valuable consideration being a Toyota Land Cruiser for himself and his wife’s company. It is alleged that Capital Management Botswana (CMB) Directors, through a web of companies and transactions allegedly bought and facilitated the Morupisis’ receipt of the vehicle. Allegedly BPOPF was to recover the alleged misused funds.
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Serame defies Masisi on “No Protests”
In a bold move, the Minister of Finance has disregarded the edict of Botswana Democratic Party’s President Mokgweetsi Masisi, who warned against primary election protests due to the tight timeline leading up to the October general elections.
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Archives preserves governance- Rakgare
Deputy Permanent Secretary, Library Archives, Arts and Culture at the Ministry of Youth, Gender, Sport and Culture Tebogo Mabebesi said Botswana as a proud member of the International Council on Archives (ICA) commemorates the International Archives. Since 2015, the country has observed this significant day chosen to honor the establishment of ICA in 1948 under the UNESCO auspices.
Mabebesi further indicated that ICA remains dedicated to the effective management of records, preservation, care and use of the world’s archival heritage. This year, the celebration was extended for a week, embracing a longer period of archives vital role.
“The commemoration of International Archives Day serves several crucial purposes. It raises public awareness about records and archives, highlighting their role in underpinning rights and identity, emphasizing decision makers the necessity of proper records management for good governance and development as well as stressing the importance of management, collection, preservation and long-term use of archives.”
Mabebesi said the say promotes the unique, extraordinary and rear documents used in archival institutions to the broader public. “The day also enhances the global visibility and image of records and archives.”
When unpacking the 2024 theme, Cyber Archives, Mabebesi stressed that it addresses the ongoing conversation about the impact of technological advancement on the records and archival sector.
“By harnessing the power of data, and embracing the emerging technologies, archives empower societies in the rapidly developing landscapes, they playing a crucial role in promoting democracy and supporting human rights.”
When speaking at the commemoration, Minister of Youth, Gender, Sport and Culture Tumiso Rakgare acknowledged private institutions, associations, NGOs, families and individuals who have answered to the plea of government of Botswana of requesting donations of private archives.
“These private archives are experiences, memories and evidence of existence of other sector other than the government. When public archives and private archives are put together, they surely give a holistic picture of the history of Botswana. We wish to urge all Batswana to contribute to the collection of their history by donating their archives.”
Rakgare commended the International Council on Archives (ICA) for the guidance towards proper records and archives management practices and standards. “They have developed standards; code of ethics and they also offer capacity building sessions to archivists and records managers to harness their skills in the profession.”
“This is a special day that we are part of as Botswana. This asserts our obligation and commitment as a country to have an impeccable management of archives and records in public and private sectors. The commemoration further assists us to reflect on the importance of archives in good governance, administrative transparency, democratic accountability and further create awareness among the general populace including the decision makers on the significance of records and archives especially in this complex modern society,” he said.
Rakgare unpacked the them, saying the 5th Industrial Revolution is near and it is evident in every corner of the world. “We feel the weight and impact of the vent by looking at the theme. It is a perfect fit into government’s Agenda of Digital Transformation. It goes without saying that the ICA has availed yet another opportunity to us to contextualize the theme and see how we are advancing in the global market in our pursuit for human development- prosperity for all in Botswana National Strategy.”
The youth minister alluded to the fact that Cyber Archives is not new at all, adding that it has been an ongoing conversation for a while in the public discourse. Records and Archival Management professionals, organizations and aligned sectors have been battling about how technological advancements are impacting the sector.
“By harnessing the power of data and embracing emerging technologies, archives empower societies to make informed decisions, foster transparency and preserve cultural heritage. In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, archives play a multifaceted role in securing a future that promotes democracy, protects citizen rights and enhances the quality of life,” he said.
Meanwhile, the ICA was formed seventy-six years ago under the auspices of UNESCO. It is an international non-governmental organization whose purpose is to promote the effective management of records and archives, their collection, preservation and use.
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Protect yourself from Spear phishing and Smishing
You may have heard of the term Phishing which is a form of social engineering and a scam where attackers deceive people into revealing sensitive information or installing malware such as viruses, worms, adware, or ransomware. There are however other forms of phishing which are just as deceitful such as Spear phishing and Smishing.
Spear phishing emails have a more targeted, personal feel to them. It is addressed to the recipient specifically and seems to come from legitimate sources, such as your bank, your insurance company or a legal firm. This is where information attained from social media platforms come into play. A sense of urgency and pending doom (a potential fine for inaction, account lockouts, increased interest rates etc) could entice users to action emails. Often, a request for card or account login information is worked into the theme of the email.
In much the same way, social engineers will call you, and armed with a few well-chosen names or phrases they pretend to be from your bank, eager to help you with a potential account problem you did not even know existed. Vishing is the term assigned to this form of ‘voice phishing’. These guys will often speak your language and are exceptionally friendly and helpful. It is their aim to gain your trust.
Another form of phishing attack is via text messages, and has been annotated the term Smishing (SMS Phishing). It is imperative that you do not entertain unsolicited emails, texts or conversations, especially where your payment card- or personal banking information is involved.
Having said this, it is not all “doom and gloom”. As users of social media, the internet and multiple devices it requires of us to be vigilant and alert. The battle begins with each of us being knowledgeable and ensuring that we stay up to date with the latest trends in the field of cybercrime.
To reiterate, never share any of the information typically required to do online transactions. This include the full card number, the card expiration date and the CVV number. You are encouraged to rather contact the bank via the contact centre or the branch to confirm if there really is a problem with their account.
When receiving an email or a voice note, do not allow yourself to be drawn into emotional urgency to act on it without confirming its legitimacy.
Due to diverse technological inventions, criminals have found more cunning ways to deceive us and access our funds. You can help prevent phishing scams by starting to be mindful of being mindful of the information that you share. Let us all be mindful of what we share on social media, think before you post.