Appeals Court bars lawyer from practice
The court of Appeal has barred a senior attorney from practice over misappropriation of trust funds.
In a ground breaking judgment issued in Gaborone on Thursday morning, the court ordered the Botswana Law Society to strike the name of Sam Mutoriti from the roll of legal practitioners which is kept by the Registrar of legal practitioners.
Although his law firm, Mutoriti Attorneys remains in operation, Mutoriti, who is said to be a Zimbabwean national, is likely to lose his work permit, according to the rules.
“Attorneys Miss Kugisani Alidi and Mr Zaeem Anwar are appointed curators bonis to control and administer the trust account(s) of Sam Mutoriti Attorneys with immediate effect,” Judge President, Ian Kirby made the ruling.
What led Mutoriti to lose his practicing licence is a sum of P210 000 which was deposited into his trust account by Dr Greyford Zulu, to pay for a house he (Zulu) was purchasing. Information before court suggests that Zulu was assured by Mutoriti that the house would be transferred into his name within two weeks. That was in June 2012.
Further evidence led in court suggests that this did not happen and in due course Dr Zulu requested a refund which he repeated on several occasions. His money was not repaid and Mutoriti proved elusive and In September he then furnished Dr Zulu with a copy of a bank transfer slip, claiming to have repaid the money into the doctor’s account.
That information proved false as the money was not paid.
Weeks later he is said to have confessed to Zulu that he had used the money for his own personal use. He then repaid P50 000 and undertook in writing to pay a further P50 000 before the end of September and to clear the balance on 12th October. Nonetheless he failed to do so and only deposited P20 000 in October. Zulu then reported him to the LSB and also laid the charge of theft with the police.
Mutoriti later paid Zulu all his money, but evidence before court, shows that the issue was not amicably resolved within the time limit set. Even though Zulu withdrew the case from the LSB after receiving all his money, the LSB established a case of professional misconduct against Mutoriti.
Mutoriti is said to have been not so cooperating with the law Society and not very truthful and on the 8th August, the Society informed him that the disciplinary committee has found him guilty of misconduct and has recommended to the LSB council that he be disbarred.
The council approved the recommendation but Mutoriti opposed it and the matter reached the High court. Mutoriti contended that his removal from the roll is “a very extreme and catastrophic sanction reserved for those who display a grave and irreparable defect of character.”
He further pleaded that he was the sole proprietor of his practice from which he supported his wife and five children.
His other contention was that the LSB relied upon the single, isolated and withdrawn complaint of Dr Zulu, “while acknowledging simultaneously that I was admitted as far back as 1993 and by necessary implication have had an unblemished record all this time.”
Mutoriti was admitted to practice as an attorney in Botswana in 1993. However according to Tshiamo Rantao of Rantao Kewagamang Attorneys, who represented LSB in this matter, Mutoriti did not really have an “unblemished” record because, in February 1999, he was removed from the roll after failing to renew his practising certificate. This followed a damning audit report commissioned by the Law Society after receiving “a string of complaints from the public.” The audit, however, could not be completed because Mutoriti said he had lost certain of his receipts books and other documents in an office move. His trust account was found to be not properly kept.
Although the High court did find Mutoriti guilty of professional misconduct, Justice Mothobi ruled that he be suspended for a period of twelve months, which suspension was to be suspended for a period of two years on condition that he did not within that period commit any act of misconduct or any conduct which includes fraud, breach of trust and disgraceful or dishonourable conduct incompatible with the status of a legal practitioner.
It was against this ruling that the LSB appealed the matter that led to Mutoriti being barred from practice by the court of Appeal, which is the highest court in the land.
The court of Appeal argued that, the fact that Mutoriti repaid Zulu his money does not detract from the gravity of his offence. That he would be “embarrassed, by being struck off the roll, that his children and wife would suffer and that his five employees would lose their jobs, according to the Judge President, are foreseeable consequences common to the cases of most attorneys who stand to be struck off for misconduct.
“They are by no means exceptional, let alone rare, so as to depart from the normal sanction for dishonesty of striking out,” the Judge pronounce and added that, “this was a clear case of theft by an attorney of large sum of money held by him in trust on behalf of his client. The proper sanction was one of striking him from the roll and this was by no means ‘wildly disproportionate’, as argued by the respondent. It was the proper order and it is the one that I will now substitute for the order of Mothobi J.”
Judge President, Ian Kirby made the ruling together with a panel of two other Judges, Lord Abernethy and Isaac Lesetedi.
Kirby further warned practising attorneys against misconduct and advised them to read the ground breaking judgement.
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Nigerians, Zimbabweans apply for Chema Chema Fund
Fronting activities, where locals are used as a front for foreign-owned businesses, have been a long-standing issue in Botswana. These activities not only undermine the government’s efforts to promote local businesses but also deprive Batswana of opportunities for economic empowerment, officials say. The Ministry of Trade and Industry has warned of heavy penalties for those involved in fronting activities especially in relation to the latest popular government initiative dubbed Chema Chema.
According to the Ministry, the Industrial Development Act of 2019 clearly outlines the consequences of engaging in fronting activities. The fines of up to P50,000 for first-time offenders and P20,000 plus a two-year jail term for repeat offenders send a strong message that the government is serious about cracking down on this illegal practice. These penalties are meant to deter individuals from participating in fronting activities and to protect the integrity of local industries.
“It is disheartening to hear reports of collaboration between foreigners and locals to exploit government initiatives such as the Chema Chema Fund. This fund, administered by CEDA and LEA, is meant to support informal traders and low-income earners in Botswana. However, when fronting activities come into play, the intended beneficiaries are sidelined, and the funds are misused for personal gain.” It has been discovered that foreign nationals predominantly of Zimbabwean and Nigerian origin use unsuspecting Batswana to attempt to access the Chema Chema Fund. It is understood that they approach these Batswana under the guise of drafting business plans for them or simply coming up with ‘bankable business ideas that qualify for Chema Chema.’
Observers say the Chema Chema Fund has the potential to uplift the lives of many Batswana who are struggling to make ends meet. They argue that it is crucial that these funds are used for their intended purpose and not siphoned off through illegal activities such as fronting. The Ministry says the warning it issued serves as a reminder to all stakeholders involved in the administration of these funds to ensure transparency and accountability in their disbursement.
One local commentator said it is important to highlight the impact of fronting activities on the local economy and the livelihoods of Batswana. He said by using locals as a front for foreign-owned businesses, opportunities for local entrepreneurs are stifled, and the economic empowerment of Batswana is hindered. The Ministry’s warning of heavy penalties is a call to action for all stakeholders to work together to eliminate fronting activities and promote a level playing field for local businesses.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Trade and Industry’s warning of heavy penalties for fronting activities is a necessary step to protect the integrity of local industries and promote economic empowerment for Batswana. “It is imperative that all stakeholders comply with regulations and work towards a transparent and accountable business environment. By upholding the law and cracking down on illegal activities, we can ensure a fair and prosperous future for all Batswana.”
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Merck Foundation and African First Ladies mark World Health Day 2024
Merck Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany marks “World Health Day” 2024 together with Africa’s First Ladies who are also Ambassadors of MerckFoundation “More Than a Mother” Campaign through their Scholarship and Capacity Building Program. Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation emphasized, “At Merck Foundation, we mark World Health Day every single day of the year over the past 12 years, by building healthcare capacity and transforming patient care across Africa, Asia and beyond.
I am proud to share that Merck Foundation has provided over 1740 scholarships to aspiring young doctors from 52 countries, in 44 critical and underserved medical specialties such as Oncology, Diabetes, Preventative Cardiovascular Medicine, Endocrinology, Sexual and Reproductive Medicine, Acute Medicine, Respiratory Medicine, Embryology & Fertility specialty, Gastroenterology, Dermatology, Psychiatry, Emergency and Resuscitation Medicine, Critical Care, Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Neonatal Medicine, Advanced Surgical Practice, Pain Management, General Surgery, Clinical Microbiology and infectious diseases, Internal Medicine, Trauma & Orthopedics, Neurosurgery, Neurology, Cardiology, Stroke Medicine, Care of the Older Person, Family Medicine, Pediatrics and Child Health, Obesity & Weight Management, Women’s Health, Biotechnology in ART and many more”.
As per the available data, Africa has only 34.6% of the required doctors, nurses, and midwives. It is projected that by 2030, Africa would need additional 6.1 million doctors, nurses, and midwives*. “For Example, before the start of the Merck Foundation programs in 2012; there was not a single Oncologist, Fertility or Reproductive care specialists, Diabetologist, Respiratory or ICU specialist in many countries such as The Gambia, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Central African Republic, Guinea, Burundi, Niger, Chad, Ethiopia, Namibia among others. We are certainly creating historic legacy in Africa, and also beyond. Together with our partners like Africa’s First Ladies, Ministries of Health, Gender, Education and Communication, we are impacting the lives of people in the most disadvantaged communities in Africa and beyond.”, added Senator Dr. Kelej. Merck Foundation works closely with their Ambassadors, the African First Ladies and local partners such as; Ministries of Health, Education, Information & Communication, Gender, Academia, Research Institutions, Media and Art in building healthcare capacity and addressing health, social & economic challenges in developing countries and under-served communities. “I strongly believe that training healthcare providers and building professional healthcare capacity is the right strategy to improve access to equitable and quality at health care in Africa.
Therefore, I am happy to announce the Call for Applications for 2024 Scholarships for young doctors with special focus on female doctors for our online one-year diploma and two year master degree in 44 critical and underserved medical specialties, which includes both Online Diploma programs and On-Site Fellowship and clinical training programs. The applications are invited through the Office of our Ambassadors and long-term partners, The First Ladies of Africa and Ministry of Health of each country.” shared Dr . Kelej. “Our aim is to improve the overall health and wellbeing of people by building healthcare capacity across Africa, Asia and other developing countries. We are strongly committed to transforming patientcare landscape through our scholarships program”, concluded Senator Kelej.
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Interpol fugitive escapes from Botswana
John Isaak Ndovi, a Tanzanian national embroiled in controversy and pursued under a red notice by the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol), has mysteriously vanished, bypassing a scheduled bail hearing at the Extension 2 Magistrate Court in Gaborone. Previously apprehended by Botswana law enforcement at the Tlokweng border post several months earlier, his escape has ignited serious concerns.
Accused of pilfering assets worth in excess of P1 million, an amount translating to roughly 30,000 Omani Riyals, Ndovi has become a figure of paramount interest, especially to the authorities in the Sultanate of Oman, nestled in the far reaches of Asia.
The unsettling news of his disappearance surfaced following his failure to present himself at the Extension 2 Magistrate Court the preceding week. Speculation abounds that Ndovi may have sought refuge in South Africa in a bid to elude capture, prompting a widespread mobilization of law enforcement agencies to ascertain his current location.
In an official communiqué, Detective Senior Assistant Police Commissioner Selebatso Mokgosi of Interpol Gaborone disclosed Ndovi’s apprehension last September at the Tlokweng border, a capture made possible through the vigilant issuance of the Interpol red notice.
At 36, Ndovi is implicated in a case of alleged home invasion in Oman. Despite the non-existence of an extradition treaty between Botswana and Oman, Nomsa Moatswi, the Director of the Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP), emphasized that the lack of formal extradition agreements does not hinder her office’s ability to entertain extradition requests. She highlighted the adoption of international cooperation norms, advocating for collaboration through the lenses of international comity and reciprocity.
Moatswi disclosed the intensified effort by law enforcement to locate Ndovi following his no-show in court, and pointed to Botswana’s track record of extraditing two international fugitives from France and Zimbabwe in the previous year as evidence of the country’s relentless pursuit of legal integrity.
When probed about the potential implications of Ndovi’s case on Botswana’s forthcoming evaluation by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), Moatswi reserved her speculations. She acknowledged the criticality of steering clear of blacklisting, suggesting that this singular case is unlikely to feature prominently in the FATF’s assessment criteria.