Sadique, Tlhalerwa to answer for Energy ministry debts
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Former minister of Mineral Resources, Green Technology & Energy Security; Sadique Kebonang and former President Ian Khama’s right hand man, Brigadier George Tlhalerwa have been subpoenaed to appear before High Court Judge Terrence Rannowane on June 5, in connection with the ministry’s debts.
The duo will testify on behalf of Oleaster (PTY) Ltd Director, Thembile Mhlauli who has dragged Kebonang’s former ministry before court demanding payment in the sum of P9 million for the construction of bulk strategic petroleum oil storages in Tshele Hills in 2016.
Oleaster’s case is that last year, the cabinet issued an instruction and Kebonang instructed that the case be removed from court and be settled amicably by paying him. Kebonang is said to have instructed that Oleaster be paid the amount owed in terms of their claim. “An acknowledgement to be paid was made by the cabinet instruction as well as the instruction of the Kebonang that the matter be settled out of court and that payment be made to us,” stated Oleaster in its court papers.
On March 8, 2018, Justice Rannowane made an order directing the parties to meet to explore possibility of an amicable settlement of the matter. “The Attorney General shall facilitate the attendance of all relevant personnel in order to have comprehensive settlement talks, especially the Minister Advocate Sadique Kebonang, the Permanent Secretary Dr. Obakeng, the Senior Private Secretary to the President Brigadier General Tlhalerwa, a senior representative of the Attorney General’s as well as the applicant’s representative,” ruled Rannowane who further stated that in the event negotiations collapse, the matter should be brought back before him.
Two weeks later, Oleaster Company wrote to the Attorney General threatening to take the matter back to the High Court as they were not interested in holding the meeting. “We note for your attention that the purpose of the said meeting was to assist the court in attaining a proper appreciation of the difficulty faced by the court especially paying attention to the averments made against and in relation to those therein mentioned high ranking officials who do not wish to be perceived as acting against government,” stated attorney David Moloise on behalf Oleaster.
“We do further reiterate that should this matter be taken to trial we shall subpoena those parties mentioned in the order together with all the pertinent Parliamentary Hansard as well as those other prominent members of the Cabinet who were present at the said deliberations, of which His Honour the Vice President was the chair, according to the minister’s advise before the Office of the President. We hold instructions to revert back to the high court with an urgent contempt application.”
It was then that, this week, Oleaster took the matter back to court and subpoenaed the witnesses. The background of the matter is that in April 2016, Oleaster entered into a sub-contract with a company known as BOWMAG Construction which was the main contractor. Oleaster relied on clause 6.6 of the said Sub-contract that it shall have the right to be paid directly by the employer. The sub-contractor commenced the work in full knowledge that the employer would make payment.
It is the sub-contractor’s averments that they used their own finances to push the project knowing that the government is usually slow in making payment and that payment would be made at any time. It is said that during November 2016, termination of the main contractor was done where immediately the sub-contractor began the process of seeking direct payment from the employer in terms of clause 4.4 (d) as read with 6.6 of the sub-contract. The court also heard that the sub-contractor was never paid but instead received excuse after excuse.
Minister Kebonang was subsequently approached whereupon he advised that it was in the interest of all parties that the matter be resolved as amicably as possible and with a view to avoiding legal action. Negotiations began whereupon senior government officials were involved from different ministries to the Office of the President.
It is said that Kebonang had stated that it was in the interest of completing the project that the sub-contractor be paid and the ministry proceed to appoint a new contractor to complete what was remaining at site. Vice-President Masisi also took the matter before the cabinet where it was agreed that the sub-contractor be paid for the work already done. However, the sub-contractor was never paid.
On March 7, 2018, Kebonang’s ministry wrote to the Director of Directorate of Intelligence and Security Services, Isaac Kgosi asking him to furnish them with a date as to when he will pay back the National Petroleum Fund (NPF) loot to help them (ministry) settle creditors.
In the savingram, Kebonang’s ministry wrote, “We refer to communication between us and Director General, Directorate of Intelligence and Security (DIS) relating to the question of refunding the NPF by DIS. The ministry is under tremendous pressure to settle several creditors, some of whom have gone to court in relation to Tshele Construction.
The Attorney General has since advised that there is a court order that requires the parties to meet and report to the court on or before Thursday 8 March, 2018.” “We will be grateful as to when the repayment by DIS would be credited to NPF. This will help us communicate definitive position with our creditors,” the Savingram further read.
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The curtain came down at the PAP session with pomp and FUNFAIR
It was pomp and funfair at the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) on March 18 as the African Cultural Music and Dance Association (ACUMDA) brought the curtains down on the PAP session with a musical performance.
The occasion was the celebration of the Pan-African Parliament Day (PAP Day) which commemorated the inauguration of the first Parliament of the PAP on 18 March 2004 at the African Union Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The celebrations took place at the seat of the Parliament in Midrand to “reflect on the journey” as the institution turns 19. The event sought to retrace the origin and context of the establishment of the PAP.
The celebrations included musical performances by ACUMDA and a presentation by Prof. Motshekga Mathole of the Kara Heritage Institute on “Whither Pan-Africanism, African Culture, and Heritage.”
The PAP Day was officially launched in 2021 to educate citizens about the Continental Parliament and ignite conversations about its future in line with its mandate.
The establishment of the PAP among the AU organs signalled a historical milestone and the most important development in the strengthening of the AU institutional architecture. It laid solid groundwork for democratic governance and oversight within the African Union system and provided a formal “platform for the peoples of Africa to get involved in discussions and decision-making on issues affecting the continent.”
The genesis of the PAP can be legally traced back to 1991 with the adoption of the Treaty Establishing the African Economic Community, adopted on June 3, 1991, in Abuja (also known as the Abuja Treaty). This treaty defined the pillars and grounds for realizing economic development and integration in Africa and called for the creation of a continental parliament, among a set of other organs, as tools for the realization of African integration and economic development. This call was reemphasized in the Sirte Declaration of 1999, which called for the accelerated implementation of the provisions of the Abuja Treaty.
PAP celebrated its ten years of existence in March 2014, a year which coincided with the adoption, on June 27, 2014, in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, of the Protocol to the Constitutive Act of the African Union relating to the Pan-African Parliament (PAP Malabo Protocol), which, once in force, will transform the PAP into a legislative body of the AU. It requires a minimum of 28 countries to ratify it before it comes into force.
Therefore, the commemoration of PAP Day serves as a reminder to the decision-makers around the continent to fulfil their commitment to the PAP by ratifying its Protocol, 19 years after sanctioning its establishment. 14 AU member states have so far ratified the Malabo Protocol.
The celebrations of PAP Day coincided with the closing ceremony of the sitting of the PAP Permanent Committees and other organs. The Sitting took place in Midrand, South Africa under the AU theme for 2023, “Accelerating the implementation of African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)” from 6 to 17 March 2023.
PAP President, H.E. Chief Fortune Charumbira, expressed appreciation to members for their commitment during the two-week engagement.
“We have come to the end of our program, and it is appropriate that we end on a high note with the PAP Day celebrations.
“We will, upon your return to your respective countries, ensure that the work achieved over the past two weeks is transmitted to the national level for the benefit of our citizens,” concluded H.E. Chief Charumbira.
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PAP needs to priorities land issues-Prof Mathole
Prof Motshekga Mathole of the Kara Heritage Institute has advised the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) to prioritise the land issue in the continent if they are to remain relevant.
He said this while addressing the Plenary during the commemoration of PAP Day held at the PAP Chambers in Midrand, South Africa
The PAP Day was officially launched in 2021 to commemorate the inauguration of the first Parliament on 18 March 2004 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Intended as a platform for people of all African states to be involved in discussions and decision-making on problems and challenges facing the continent.
In a speech titled “Whither Pan-Africanism, African Culture, and Heritage,” Prof Mathole stated that for PAP to remain relevant, it must address the continent’s key land dilemma, which he feels is the core cause of all problems plaguing the continent
“If this Parliament is to be taken seriously, ownership of land and natural resources must be prioritized at the national and continental levels. Africans are not poor; they are impoverished by imperialist nations that continue to hold African land and natural resources,” said Prof Mathole.
“When African leaders took power from colonialists, they had to cope with poverty, unemployment, and other issues, but they ignored land issues. That is why Africa as a whole is poor today. Because our land and minerals are still in the hands of colonizers, Africa must rely on Ukraine for food and Europe for medical.”
Prof Mathole believes that the organization of the masses is critical as cultural revolution is the only solution to Africa’s most problems.
“We need a cultural revolution for Africa, and that revolution can only occur if the masses and people are organized. First, we need a council of African monarchs since they are the keepers of African arts, culture, and heritage. We need an African traditional health practitioners council because there is no ailment on the planet that cannot be healed by Africans; the only problem is that Africans do not harvest and process their own herbs,” he said.
Meanwhile, PAP President, H.E. Hon Chief Fortune Charumbira expressed satisfaction with the commitment displayed throughout the two-week period and said the PAP Day celebrations were befitting curtains down to the august event.
“On this high note of our two-week engagement, it is appropriate that we close our program on a high note with PAP celebrations, and I would like to thank everyone for your commitment, and please continue to be committed,” said H.E Hon Chief Charumbira.
PAP’s purpose as set out in Article 17 of the African Union Constitutive Act, is “to ensure the full participation of African people in the development and economic integration of the continent”. As it stands, the mandate of the Parliament extends to consultation and playing an advisory and oversight role for all AU organs pending the ratification protocol.
Also known as the Malabo Protocol, the Protocol to the consultative act of the AU relating to the PAP was adopted at the Assembly of Heads of State and Government summit in June 2014 and is intended to extend the powers of the PAP into a fully-fledged legislative organ. It requires a minimum of 28 countries to ratify it before it comes into force.
The commemoration of the PAP Day, therefore, serves as a reminder to the decision-makers around the continent to fulfil their commitment to the PAP by ratifying its Protocol, 17 years after sanctioning its establishment. 14 AU member states have so far ratified the Malabo Protocol.
The PAP Day commemoration also aims to educate citizens about the PAP and ignite conversations about the future of the continental Parliament in line with its mandate.
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DPP drops Kably threat to kill case
The Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) Chief Whip and Member of Parliament for Letlhakeng/Lephephe Liakat Kably has welcomed the Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP)’s decision not to prosecute BDP councillor, Meshack Tshenyego who allegedly threatened to kill him. However, the legislator has warned that should anything happen to his life, the state and the courts will have to account.
In an interview with this publication, Kablay said he has heard that the DPP has declined to prosecute Tshenyego in a case in which he threatened to kill him adding that the reasons he received are that there was not enough evidence to prosecute. “I am fine and at peace with the decision not to prosecute over evidential deficits but I must warn that should anything happen to my life both the DPP and the Magistrate will have to account,” Kablay said.
Connectedly, Kably said he has made peace with Tshenyego, “we have made peace and he even called me where upon we agreed to work for the party and bury the hatchet”.
The DPP reportedly entered into a Nolle Prosequi in the matter, meaning that no action would be taken against the former Letlhakeng Sub-district council chairperson and currently councillor for Matshwabisi.
According to the charge sheet before the Court, councilor Tshenyego on July 8th, 2022 allegedly threatened MP Kably by indirectly uttering the following words to nominatedcouncilor Anderson Molebogi Mathibe, “Mosadi wa ga Liakat le ban aba gagwe ba tsile go lela, Mosadi wame le banake le bone ba tsile go lela. E tla re re mo meeting, ka re tsena meeting mmogo, ke tla mo tlolela a bo ke mmolaya.”
Loosely translated this means, Liakat’s wife and children are going to shed tears and my wife and kids will shed tears too. I will jump on him and kill him during a meeting.
Mathibe is said to have recorded the meeting and forwarded it to Kably who reported the matter to the police.
In a notice to the Magistrate Court to have the case against Tshenyego, acting director of Public Prosecutions, Wesson Manchwe cited the nolle prosequi by the director of public prosecution in terms of section 51 A (30) of the Constitution and section 10 of the criminal procedure and evidence act (CAP 08:02) laws of Botswana as reasons for dropping the charges.
A nolle prosequi is a formal notice of abandonment by a plaintiff or prosecutor of all or part of a suit or action.
“In pursuance of my powers under section 51 A (300 of the Constitution and section 10 of the criminal procedure and evidence act (CAP 08:02) laws of Botswana, I do hereby stop and discontinue criminal proceedings against the accused Meshack Tshenyego in the Kweneng Administrative District, CR.No.1077/07/2022 being the case of the State vs Tshenyego,” said Manchwe. The acting director had drafted the notice dropping the charges on 13th day of March 2023.
The case then resumed before the Molepolole Magistrate Solomon Setshedi on the 14th of March 2023. The Magistrate issued an order directing “that matters be withdrawn with prejudice to the State, accused is acquitted and discharged.”