DCEC revives big guns’ cases
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Scores of corruption cases involving prominent figures in government and their associates have been concealed at the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC) during former President Lt Gen Ian Khama’s administration, WeekendPost investigation can reveal.
The cases were buried under the impression that there was no sufficient evidence to take the alleged perpetrators to book whereas the evidence was concealed by officials in top positions in different segments of the directorate, this publication has established. The cases implicate prominent figures in business, former and current senior government officials. President Mokgweetsi Masisi administration which introduced itself with a slogan of ‘clean-up campaign’ since assuming power 12 months ago has since resuscitated the cases.
Office of the President recently ousted Bruno Paledi, a move which viewed as the watershed moment. Paledi was replaced by Brigadier Joseph Mathambo who had been seconded from the Botswana Defence Force (BDF) initially as the director of Operations DCEC.
Inside information has it that Paledi has been accused of acting as a stumbling block between the office of the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and DCEC investigators. He is alleged to have in many instances obscured vital evidence from the prosecutions office resulting in losing cases on grounds of lack of evidence.
“If it happened that somehow a certain file that was supposed to be buried find its way to the DPP office, the former DIS boss, Isaac Kgosi would then find a way of dealing with it from that office until some of the evidence was missing. The case would then be sent back to the DCEC where Paledi would now sit on it instead of conveying the message to the investigation team to help with more evidence,” said a source. Paledi has in the past gave this reporter permission to write everything alleged against him without his comment, saying he just wants to fade into the background and move on with his life.
Isaac Kgosi
This publication can confirm that currently Kgosi has about 20 cases before the DCEC. Some of the cases which might land him in court soon include; Sentlhane farm, Debswana tender and the National Petroleum Fund (NPF). Inside sources at the DPP say Kgosi will in the next mention join his co-accused in the dock as there is now more evidence against him. The link is in the P118m which was sent to Israel in 2017. He authorised a payment of P118m to an Israel company in 2017 claiming the amount was due for a payment of security equipment
For a long time one of the defence counsels in the case, Kgosietsile Ngakaagae has been decrying that Kgosi was the main actor in the case, saying there was no how he could be left out when he was the one calling the shots. Kgosi purchased Sentlhane farm in the sum of P900 000 in 2009, and allegations are that the money was deposited by Vladacom. He is also alleged to have received an amount of P180 000 from Debswana under the pretext that there was the need to heighten security.
Girl friend
This publication can also confirm that there is an on-going investigation against a certain lady who was in a romantic relationship with a certain former director. The girl who is now outside the country, somewhere in Africa will soon be recalled to come and answer for the government house which is mysteriously under her names.
It is alleged after registering the house under her names a few years ago, the girl went to a certain bank asking for a mortgage loan to buy the same house. The bank dismissed her saying they did not understand why they should give her a loan to buy a house which was already under her names.
Samson Moyo Guma
Among a few possible cases to be launched against him, the Tati East legislator Samson Guma is alleged to be currently under investigation for fraud. It is alleged that through his company, United Refineries Botswana, entered into a contract with the government to supply schools with locally produced cooking oil. He had however imported the oil from South Africa through Sefalana Cash and Carry. The government refused the oil on the basis that they had agreed on a locally produced product. “He then made fake stickers and supplied the oil claiming they were locally produced.” When reached for comment, Moyo said, “Sorry I have no comment on all these stories.”
Prince Maele
Lerala/Maunatlala MP, Prince Maele will next week appear for the P50, 000 dustbin scandal. The money was found at Maele’s vacant residence in Block 6 late last year and according to a reliable source, the file is ready for prosecution at the DPP office.
Directorate’s internal investigations
This publication is also alive to an ongoing internal investigation at the DCEC. The Department of Technical Services (DTS) has in the past engaged the DCEC and sought assistance of external investigators to investigate some unfinished projects in the country. DTS gave DCEC P4.9m to pay the company at the end of the investigations for services provided. And it was reported that the directorate had engaged Info track.
The investigations however never materialised, though the payment was made in a week’s time. Allegations are that senior officials at the DCEC divided the money among themselves. Contacted for comment, the new DCEC boss only confirmed that there was an international investigation at DCEC. He however would not comment on other cases.
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Local tennis team upbeat ahead of Billie Jean King cup
With almost two weeks until the 2023 Billie Jean King Cup, which will be staged in Kenya from June 12-17, 2023, the Botswana Tennis Association (BTA) ladies’ team coach, Ernest Seleke, is optimistic about reaching greater heights.
Billie Jean King Cup, or the BJK Cup, is a premier international team competition in women’s tennis, launched as the Federation Cup to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the International Tennis Federation (ITF). The BJK Cup is the world’s largest annual women’s international team sports competition in terms of the number of nations that compete.
The finals will feature 12 teams (Botswana, Burundi, Ghana, Kenya, Seychelles, Morocco, Namibia, Nigeria, Tunisia, Mauritius, Zimbabwe, and the Democratic Republic of Congo) competing in the four round-robin groups of three. The four group winners will qualify for the semifinals, and the 2023 Billie Jean King Cup will be crowned after the completion of the knockout phase.
Closer to home, the BW Tennis team is comprised of Thato Madikwe, Leungo Monnayoo, Chelsea Chakanyuka, and Kelebogile Monnayoo. However, according to Seleke, they have not assembled the team yet as some of the players are still engaged.
“At the moment, we are depending on the players and their respective coaches in terms of training. However, I will meet up with Botswana-based players in the coming week, while the United States of America (USA) based player Madikwe will probably meet us in Kenya. Furthermore, Ekua Youri and Naledi Raguin, who are based in Spain and France respectively, will not be joining us as they will be writing their examinations,” said Seleke.
Seleke further highlighted the significance of this competition and how competitive it is. “It is a massive platform for our players to showcase their talent in tennis, and it is very competitive as countries target to get promoted to the world categories where they get to face big nations such as Spain, France, USA, and Italy. Though we are going to this tournament as underdogs because it is our second time participating, I’m confident that the girls will put in a good showing and emerge with results despite the odds,” highlighted Seleke.
Quizzed about their debut performance at the BJK Cup, he said, “I think our performance was fair considering the fact that we were newbies. We came third in our group after losing to North Macedonia and South Africa. We went on to beat Uganda, then Kenya in the playoffs. Unfortunately, we couldn’t play Burundi due to heavy rainfall and settled for the position 9/10,” he said.
For her part, team representative Leungo Monnayoo said they are working hard as they aim to do well at the tourney. “The preparations for the tourney have long begun because we practice each and every day. We want to do well, hence we need to be motivated. Furthermore, I believe in my team as we have set ourselves a big target of coming home with the trophy,” she said.
News
Pep Stores donates sanitary towels to Popagano JSS
The Guidance and Counseling unit at Popagano Junior Secondary School received a donation of 790 sanitary towels from Pep stores on Thursday.
When presenting the donation, Mareledi Thebeng, the Dinokaneng Area Manager, highlighted their belief in giving back to the community, as their existence depends on the communities they serve. Thebeng pointed out that research indicates one in four girls miss school every day due to the lack of basic necessities like sanitary towels. Therefore, as a company, they strive to assist in alleviating this situation. She expressed hope that this donation would help ensure uninterrupted learning for girls.
Upon receiving the donation on behalf of the students, Charity Sambire, the President of the Student Representative Council, expressed her gratitude. Sambire specifically thanked Pep Store for their generous gift, speaking on behalf of the students, especially the girl child.
She conveyed their sincere appreciation for Pep Store’s compassion and quoted the adage, “Blessed is the hand that gives.” Sambire expressed the students’ hope for Pep Stores’ prosperity, enabling them to continue supporting the students. As a gesture of gratitude, the students pledged to excel academically.
During her speech, Motlalepula Madome, the Senior Teacher in Guidance and Counseling, highlighted that many students at the school come from disadvantaged backgrounds where parents struggle to provide basic necessities. Consequently, some students miss school when they experience menstruation due to this lack.
Madome emphasized the significance of the donation in preventing the girl child from missing lessons and its potential to improve the school’s overall results. She expressed the school’s gratitude and expressed a desire for continued support from Pep Stores.
Popagano Junior Secondary School, situated in the Okavango District, holds the second position academically in the North West region. Despite its location, the school has been dedicated to achieving excellence since 2017
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Botswana misses out critical PAP committee meeting
The Pan African Parliament (PAP) committee on gender, family, youth and people with disability in its sitting considered, adopted and recommended to the plenary session the preliminary report on the framework for the model law on gender equality.
According to the last week’s media release from PAP which is sitting with its various committees until June 2nd, the committee is following up the PAP initiative to draw up a model law on gender equality to enable national governments to harmonize, modernize and standardize their legislations to address local needs is set to be discussed in Plenary.
However, what is concerning is the fact that Botswana which is a member state missed the deliberations. Kgosi Mosadi Seboko who sat in the committee representing Botswana has since been ejected by parliament and this is a huge blow for a nation that is still battling equity and gender balance.
“Although PAP has no legislative powers it makes model laws for member states to adopt. PAP also develops protocols to be ratified by countries. The input of countries at Committee state is extremely critical. It now means the voice of Botswana is missing the discussions leading up to development of protocols or model laws,” said one of Botswana’s representative at PAP Dr. Kesitegile Gobotswang who is attending the current session.
While Botswana is missing, the committee meeting took place on the sidelines of the Sixth PAP second ordinary Session being held under the African Union Theme of the Year for 2023, “The Year of AfCFTA: Accelerating the Implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area” in Midrand, South Africa and will run up to 2 June 2023. Chairperson of the Committee, Hon Mariam Dao-Gabala expressed satisfaction with preliminary processes undertaken so far towards the formulation of the Model Law,” a release from the PAP website reads.
“The law should be suitable to all countries whatever the predominant culture or religion is. The aim is to give an opportunity to women to participate in the economic, political and social development of the continent. Women are not well positioned and face a lot of obstacles. We are introducing the idea of equity in the Law because we cannot talk about equality without equity,” said Hon Mariam Dao-Gabala in the press statement.
The release has stated that among issues to be covered by the Model Law is the migratory movements of women. The Committee proffered that this has to be addressed at the continental level to ensure that migrant women enjoy all their rights and live with dignity in their destination country. The members of the Gender Committee undertook consultations to consolidate the contributions of the various stakeholders that will be the logical framework format for the Model Law.