Pay back the money – BAMB looters told
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Government officers who work for the Botswana Agricultural Marketing Board (BAMB) and the National Strategic Grain Reserves are facing charges of theft and fraud after an internal audit discovered that they have been looting national silos tonnes of grains over prolonged periods.
As the nation is still grappling with shortage of grains, the officers who were overseeing stocks in Francistown and Mahalapye branches are said to have been working in cahoots with some Millers and Truck drivers to fraudulently divert truck loads of sorghum to the millers.
The audit discovered that more than 3000 bags of sorghum (50kgs), especially the Panda sorghum, were stolen from Francistown and Mahalapye BAMB storages and taken to the Millers between February 2012 and April 2013.
“It seems there was collusion between the truck drivers, the Branch Manager Mahalapye, the stock controller Francistown and one Miller,” reads part of the audit report.
But the audit could not establish the exact loss made to the organisation by these fraudulent behaviour since it was discovered after year end stock take.
“Some activities point to some activities that showed that this had been going on prior to stock take. Some of the adjustment left open dated back to 2008 financial year. Audit could not cover all branches,” further reveals the report.
The BAMB Executive Officer (CEO), Edison Wotho told the Parliamentary Committee of Statutory Bodies and State Enterprises on Wednesday this week in Gaborone that the grains that were diverted are worth over half a Million pula.
In most cases trucks that were diverted were carrying 700 bags of sorghum (50kgs) either from Mahalapye to Francistown or vice-versa. For instance in April 2013, some 710 bags were recorded having taken from Francistown to Mahalapye, but in Mahalapye they never recorded having received the loads.
“Loads of Panda sorghum 50kg, that were dispatched from Francistown to Mahalapye were not reflected in the Mahalapye stock ledger..The explanation given by the leading hand and the Branch administrator was that he remembers one truck in reference. The leading hand further explained that he remembered one truck that they found in the morning of 20 April 2013, but was not offloaded. When investigating further it showed that the transporters for the trucks that were not offloaded at Mahalapye were paid. The delivery notes were signed by Branch Manager Mahalapye,” reads part of the report.
The delivery notes were signed as if stock was received at Mahalapye. The suspicion is that the Branch Manager met with the trucks except one truck. The suspicion is that the Branch manager met with the truck driver outside the branch office and signed for the loads.
The Branch Manager Mahalapye was recorded as having admitted that she was signing invoiced BAMB from Francistown to Mahalapye as if they have offloaded at Mahalapye. Meanwhile the miller received the loads without any invoice and is said to have never questioned about the invoice.
Investigations further revealed that there were other transfers made from Mahalapye to Francistown branch. The stock controller confirmed having received them, but they did not appear in the Francistown stock. The 800 bags are estimated to have cost slightly over P142 000.
In another case that too place in the same Month of April 2013, approximately 200 bags of sorghum (50kg) were given to a miller without any payment or documentation of any form.
The explanation according to the audit report is that, it was the Branch manager who instructed her Junior officers to issue the stock without any documentation.
“They were told that the transaction would be captured into the Miller account once the system was up and running and an invoice will be raised. The Brach Manager explained that there were no manual invoices for that customer and the chief stock controller denied knowledge of the said transaction. She explained that same day the sales invoices were sent to Mahalapye by bus,” further revealed the report.
Bags of beans amounting to P75 000 were also missing from the BAMB storage as well.
The auditors recommended that accused Branch Manager, Mahalapye and Stock controller in Francistown pay for the loot. Meanwhile the transporters who were doing fraud are not allowed to do business with BAMB anymore.
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BCP, AP stalemate in 7 constituencies
When the Botswana Congress Party (BCP), Alliance for Progressives, Botswana Labour Party (BLP), and conveners reconvene next week, the controversial issue of allocation of the seven constituencies will be the main topic of discussion, WeekendPost can reveal.
Not only that, but the additional four constituencies will also dominate the talks. The idea is to finally close the “constituency allocation phase,” which has proven to be the most difficult part of the ongoing negotiations.
Earlier this year, the two parties announced that the marathon talks would be concluded by February. Even at a media briefing last month, BCP Secretary General Goretetse Kekgonegile and Publicity Secretary Dr. Mpho Pheko were optimistic that the negotiations would be concluded before the end of February.
However, it is now mid-March and the talks have yet to be concluded. What could be the reasons for the delay? This is a question that both Kekgonegile and Pheko have not responded to, as they have ignored the reporters’ inquiries. However, a senior figure within the party has confided to this publication as to what is delaying the highly anticipated negotiations.
“We are reconvening next week to finalize constituency allocations, taking into account the additional four new ones plus the outstanding seven,” he explained. It later surfaced that Gaborone Central, Gaborone North, Mogoditshane, Tswapong North, Francistown West, Tati West, and Nata Gweta are all contested by both BCP and AP. This is because the other 50 constituencies were allocated by December of last year.
The three parties have failed to find common ground for the Bosele Ward by-elections. Are these constituencies not a deal breaker for the talks? “None of the constituencies is a deal breaker,” responded a very calm BCP official.
In Bosele Ward, AP has yielded to BCP, despite most of its members disapproving the decision. On the other hand, BLP has refused, and it will face off with BCP together with Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) and Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC).
The decision by BLP to face off with BCP has been labelled as a false start for the talks by political observers.
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Botswana approves extradition of British fugitive
Raiz Ahmed Tayub, a British fugitive sought by Interpol for his involvement in human trafficking and slave trade crimes, was captured by the Botswana Police Service (BPS) earlier this year.
Merapelo Mokgosi, the Assistant Director of the Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP), confirmed that he will be extradited to France, where he is wanted for his crimes.
“It is true that Tayub will be extradited to France, where he has been wanted for some time,” says Mokgosi.
She explained that the fugitive was arrested by the Botswana Police in early January while attempting to enter Botswana through the Pioneer border gate. Since his arrest, he has been appearing before the Lobatse Magistrate Court to fight his release from custody and to object to his extradition to France. During his court appearance, Tayub opted for voluntary extradition.
“He opted for voluntary extradition, which the extradition Act allows,” said Mokgosi. She added that the suspect was not under duress when he chose voluntary extradition. Soon after he made this choice, the Ministry of Justice was notified, and the minister approved his extradition. Preparations are still underway to fly the wanted man to France, and once the necessary paperwork is completed between the two nations, the suspect will be extradited.
Mokgosi indicated that plans were still being made to complete the suspect’s extradition to France, and the Botswana government would pay for his flight along with his escort.
Meanwhile, the court has ordered the Botswana Prison Services (BPS) to provide the Islamic British fugitive with “halal food” while he is in custody.
In an earlier court application, Tayub had asked to be detained at a five-star hotel, as he could pay for it until the completion of his case. He also argued that he should not have to wear a prison uniform due to the Covid-19 outbreak. He was thought to have been traveling to Malawi at the time of his capture.
When delivering the order, the principal magistrate, Gofaone Morwang, said the detainee should be provided with halal daily rations with immediate effect while he is in custody. The magistrate dismissed TAYUB’s application for hotel detention and exemption from wearing a prison uniform.
News
Botswana approves extradition of British fugitive
Raiz Ahmed Tayub, a British fugitive sought by Interpol for his involvement in human trafficking and slave trade crimes, was captured by the Botswana Police Service (BPS) earlier this year.
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