?DPP powers challenged in court
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After being put under a restraining order by the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) recently, Kgori Capital has now launched a civil application challenging powers of the DPP.
In their filing notice filed before the court this week, Kgori Capital stated that, “The DPP does not have the requisite to institute this confiscation civil penalty application. The powers of the DPP are set out in the constitution of the Republic of Botswana at Section 51 A (3) (a), (b), (c) and (d). These powers are primarily and exclusively prosecutorial in nature.”
Kgori goes on to state that the powers do not include the institution of civil penalty order application in terms of the Proceeds and Instrumental of Crime Act. And that the sections which seek to clothe the DPP with the power to institute these proceedings are ultra vires the constitution to the extent that they seek the powers of the DPP beyond those that have been defined by the constitution. The sections, they contend are invalid and unconstitutional and of no force and effect at law. They urged the court to strike down the sections as unconstitutional and void.
DPP was granted the application of forfeiture of P10 million by Lobatse High Court Judge Nthomiwa last week. He stated he was relying on Section 35(3) of the Proceeds and Instruments of Crime Act, Cap 08:03. “The order relates to the credit amount of P10 million standing to the credit of Investment Account Number: 906 000 149 0058 held by Kgori Capital Botswana Kgori Capital with Stanbic Bank Botswana. The receiver shall take control of all property specified in the order pending the institution and finalization of proceedings for a Civil Penalty Order,” Judge Nthomiwa ruled.
He went on to stress that all persons with knowledge of this order were, other than as required and permitted by the order, prohibited from dealing with the said amount, “except in the manner or circumstances, if any, specified in the order”. The sum in question is a portion of the total credit balance of P30m standing to the same account as at January 22, 2018. An affidavit deposed by Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Stephen Tiroyakgosi states that the amount in question represents a reasonable estimate of the value of benefits and incidental expenses derived by Kgori Capital as a result of a multiple serious related criminal activities.
The offences include cheating the public revenue; abuse of public office; obtaining by false pretences and money laundering. The court heard that Kgori Capital had over a period of 10 months, debited to the Kgori National Petroleum Fund Account held with Stanbic Bank the total amount of P10m ostensibly as management fees contrary to the consultancy agreement. The consultancy agreement is such that Kgori Capital could only benefit as a sub-contractor with whatever fees it might be entitled to, claimable from Basis Points Capital Botswana Limited from the consultancy price.
“By paying itself the so called management fees from the Kgori National Petroleum Fund account, Kgori Capital breached the National Petroleum Fund and diverted to itself the said P10m. As investigations are continuing, this figure is likely to change, especially at the time of making of the substantive order,” states Tiroyakgosi in his affidavit. It is said that from March 7, 2016 to December 14, 2017, various debits were entered against the National Petroleum Fund account No: 906 000 208 5742 held with Stanbic Bank, with the amounts credited to the Kgori Capital bank account No: 906 000143 6320 held by Kgori Capital with Stanbic Bank Botswana allegedly as management fees in payment to Kgori Capital.
The information before court further suggests that the investigations have revealed that the National Petroleum Fund consultancy agreement had only Basis Points Capital as the only contracting party with Botswana government concerning the services that Kgori Capital purported to render and to be entitled to be paid for. “Kgori Capital could only render the services to government as a sub-contractor under the consultancy agreement, with all its fees only claimable from and payable by Basis Points Capital.
” The Department of Energy late last year withdrew all National Petroleum Fund monies and investment portfolios from respective banks and investment institutions. A communication from the Department of Energy stated that all proceeds into the National Petroleum Fund would now be deposited into the Government Remittance account held at Bank of Botswana. Furthermore, all commitments out of the Fund shall be routed through the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development for payment through the Government Remittance account.
The latest decision by government follows a series of events originated by a money laundering charge on one Bakang Seretse who was Managing Director of Kgori Capital is in his personal capacity implicated in a case involving P326 million which is perceived as thus far the leading financial scandal in monetary value. Bakang is accused alongside two others, Botho Leburu and Kenneth Kerekang. Alphonse Ndzinge is the new Kgori Executive Manager.
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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.”