Khama takes jab at over-funded DISS
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The Minister of Environment, Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism Tshekedi Khama has expressed disdain for the Directorate on Intelligence Security Services (DISS), mocking it for its recent involvement in the recent P250 million money laundering scandal.
Khama, who was appearing before Parliamentary Committee on Statutory Bodies and Public Enterprises could not resist from ensnaring DISS in his deliberation to the committee until he was warned by the committee chairperson Samson Guma.
Khama had told the committee that, he has normalised operation at Botswana Tourism Board (BTO) following months of operation with a properly constituted Board of Directors. Ordinarily the Board of Directors is responsible for running the BTO, but its lack of quorum saw Minister Khama assuming the roles of the board, something which infuriated Guma.
“I want things done correctly. We are correcting everything we did wrong. As we speak we now have a Board. Ga re batle go tshwana le bo-DISS ba gotweng batsere P250 million bare ba aga fuel storages, whatever it is,” Khama told the committee. Guma however, forced Khama to withdraw the statement because the matter is before the courts, which legally prevents the committee, which is an extension of parliament, from discussing the matter.
Later at the end of the proceedings, Khama shared with the media that, while he had been subjected to scrutiny by the committee over the operation of the BTO and over a ‘mere’ appointment of a UK company to provide services to BTO, the likes of DISS who are involved with millions of pula always go untouched, both by the committee and by the law. “We need that money [DISS money] for anti-poaching missions. Poachers are having a field day and we are not able to combat their actions.”
The fallout between Tshekedi and DISS first came into play a earlier this year when the former, in an unexpected turn of events refused to support DISS supplementary funding, insisting that it was a misplaced request. He pointed out that for the good of the country, the government should get its priorities right.
Tshekedi’s reasons for rejecting the DISS request for additional funding was that the money that his ministry always requests to compensate Batswana who lose lives and livestock due to wild animals attacks is always lower than what they require and it has been so for the past few years.
“I become surprised that for the DISS, P15 million can be passed to fix the computers. What are we saying to Batswana? Are we telling them that we cannot compensate them for the damages caused by wildlife or when they have lost a family member yet we can afford to fix computers?” he told parliament then.
There has been a battle between Tshekedi Khama and DISS over its involvement in anti-poaching missions, something which Khama and his lieutenants at the ministry believe is the preserve of the Wildlife Anti-Poaching Intelligence Unit, and none of the DISS business.
Earlier this year, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism Jimmy Opelo told the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) that the Wildlife anti-poaching unit was capable of pursuing its mission given the resources at its disposal. He informed PAC that the wildlife department had eight aircraft and eight special vehicles used in combating poaching in Botswana.
The Wildlife anti-poaching intelligence is the brainchild of Tshekedi himself. In a clear sign that he would do everything to get what he wanted, Tshekedi went on to appoint Brigadier Peter Magosi to head the wildlife intelligence unit. Brigadier Magosi had just been fired by President Khama from the army at the time of his appointment, following a perceived battle between him, Kgosi and others close to President Khama. His expulsion came on the back of the recommendation of the then commander of Botswana Defence Force (BDF) Lt Gen Gaolathe Galebotswe.
Meanwhile the Director General of DISS, Isaac Kgosi has a different view over DISS involvement in the anti-poaching mission. He also told PAC during the same sitting that the DISS role in the anti-poaching mission was complementary. “We are not in competition with them [Wildlife Anti-poaching Unit]. The role of the DISS is to gather intelligence for its consumers. We are not only limited to our country as we even go international to gather intelligence,” he said.
He further told the PAC that the DISS anti-poaching missions are also sanctioned by the Central Intelligence Committee (CIC). It is believed that the P250 million which is subject of a money laundering court case was meant for the purchase of DISS equipment that would have helped in anti-poaching missions.
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Malawi appeals for help over Cyclone Freddy at PAP
As of yesterday evening, the death toll from the Cyclone in Malawi had risen from the initially reported 190 to 225 in a short period of time, over 20 000 people have been displaced, and the worst of fears are yet to come as the fatalities continue to mount. This was reported by a Malawi Member of Parliament attending the Pan African Parliament session in Midrand, South Africa, Hon Steven Mikiya.
Mikiya was giving a statement on behalf of Malawi as the ongoing Pan African Parliament in South Africa.
Mikiya said the Cyclone has wreaked the most havoc in our country’s Southern Region. “The Southern Region, has been hardest hit with widespread heavy rains and strong winds. This caused a rapid rise in water levels and subsequent flooding. Meanwhile, power supply has been disrupted, roads blocked off and rendered impassable and mudslides have also been widely reported,” he said.
He made a special appeal to the PAP: “Where I come from, there is a parable which I would like to share with you which says, “mzako weniweni umamudziwa panthawi ya mavuto.” Simply put, a friend in need is a friend indeed or put loosely, a person who helps at a difficult time is a friend you can rely on.”
Mikiya continued: “Yes! Misfortune has knocked on our door and left in its wake a trail of death and destruction that may take years to fully recover from. However, amidst these difficulties, I have every reason to believe that sometimes when you are in a dark place and think you have been buried, you have actually been planted. My belief, Mr. President, arises out of my faith in this gathering and out of the conviction that it is not coincidental that Cyclone Freddy hit Malawi and Mozambique while the delegations of both countries are here.”
According to Mikiya, the level of destruction, the loss of life, property and the decimation of the entire fabric of established communities has been unprecedented. He noted that all this, is coming at a time when Malawi was starting to show signs of recovery from the deadly COVID-19 pandemic that also came hard on the heels of Cyclone Ana and Cyclone Gombe that left a similar trail of devastation and destruction in Malawi and neighbouring countries.
As of Sunday, this week, from the 12th of March, Malawi and Mozambique have been facing the devastating effects of Cyclone Freddy that made a landfall over Mozambique on Saturday the 11th and reached Malawi by Sunday the 12th of March.
The Malawi legislator said he has absolute faith in the Pan African Parliament, which he described as “a league of nations brought together by a shared ancestry, history, identity as well as our beloved continent which we inhabit”.
Meanwhile, Malawi President, Lazarus Chakwera, has declared a State of Disaster in the affected areas effectively appealing for local and international support for the affected families.
Mikiya appealed to the Pan African Parliament drawing “positive” inspiration from Europe which rallied around Turkey after the destructive earthquakes to bring the much-needed relief and humanitarian aid to the people of Turkey.
He said Africa should demonstrate to the world that the African Union and its Organs are not mere talk shows, but effective institutions which stand up when it matters most.
“Alone, it may take us a lifetime to fully recover, but together, in the Pan-Africanist spirit of Ubuntu, our lives and livelihoods will return to a semblance of normality in record time. This is the time to live by our operative mantra, “One Africa, One Voice.” Mikiya concluded.