THE BOTSWANA GAZEttE WEDNESDAY 02 JUNE 2021 MINISTRY CONCLUDESPAGE 1 INVESTIGATIONS ON MORAKALADI DISMISSAL? WEDNESDAY 02 JUNE 2021 FREE! PAGE 17 “Kitso ke maatla” OP TRANSFERS DCEC TOP BRASS Transfers at the top echelons of DCEC are exercising the minds of observers to find reasons for the move that has reportedly left the head of the corruption-busting agency hanging out to dry. STORY ON PAGE 2 Former DCEC director general, Brigadier Joseph Mathambo and the P100 Billion saga claim more casualties ScRAP THE "I Am Aware LAND BOARD! Of Plan To - BAKGATLA Oust Me" LEADERS - Kablay PAGE 10 PAGE 4 BURS CLOSES IN ON CONSTRUCTION TYCOON , P80M OWED PAGE 2 Check the Botswana website Check the Botswana website Visit sc.com/bw/bankmore/ Visit sc.com/bw/bankmore/ Standard Chartered Bank Botswana Ltd is regulated by Bank of Botswana Standard Chartered Bank Botswana Ltd is regulated by Bank of Botswana Check the Botswana website Visit sc.com/bw/bankmore/ Standard Chartered Bank Botswana Ltd is regulated by Bank of Botswana PAGE 2 NEWS WEDNESDAY 02 JUNE 2021 THE BOTSWANA GAZEttE zette, investigations show that the company made several false tax declarations between 2010 and 2018. In the process, over P100 million was transferred to a bank account in Canada where Liu’s family is said to be residing. Liu is also believed to have invested in property in Canada and the USA. Investigating sources say BURS believes that Sunshine Construc- tion had a turnover of around P500 million between 2010 and 2018 but only P7.5 million was surren- dered in tax to BURS. Records also show that Sunshine Construc- tion won tenders from Botswa- na Housing Corporation (BHC) worth more than P200 million. It is believed that BURS has es- tablished that the company owes over P80 million in taxes, includ- ing accumulated interest. Liu has previously denied all al- A general view of the Botswana Unified Revenue Service (BURS) head quater at the CBD in Gaborone on 29 May 2021. (PicMonirul Bhuiyan/PRESS PHOTO) legations of financial crimes for which he is being investigated. He instead points a finger at his former General Manager, his Ac- BURS closes in on countant, his Cashier and his Site Foreman. Liu and his company came under the spotlight when he was raided construction Tycoon by BURS in March 2020. Investi- gating sources alleged that he was • Docket handed over to BURS legal department found in possession of more than a P1 million in hard cash at the time • Tycoon’s company probed for P80m in tax fraud of the raid. BURS General Manager (re- • Tycoon could face money laundering and tax evasion charges sponsible for) Investigations, LETLHOGILE MPUANG The company is owned by construction mogul, Jian Compliance and Enforcement Liu. It is reported that the company’s dossier has been (ICE), Kaone Molapo, was un- he Botswana Unified Revenue Service (BURS) is final- handed over to BURS’ legal department to compile tax available for comment at the time ising charges against Sunshine Construction over unpaid of going to press. Ttaxes which are believed to be in the region of P80 million, evasion and money laundering charges. The Botswana Gazette has established. According to documents seen by The Botswana Ga- advise on the way forward. During his engagement with the DPP, Nel was also advised to engage DCEC OP overhauls DCEC top brass management without investigator Jako Hubona’s presence, a development that shocked DCEC and that Katlholo has con- Transfers at the top echelons of DCEC are exercising the minds of observers to find reasons for the firmed. Sources at DISS claim that there were move that has reportedly left the head of the corruption-busting agency hanging out to dry, especially also suspicions that the anti-Masisi brigade that the prosecutor in the P100 billion case that Tymon Katlholo is convinced is a wild goose chase is had infiltrated DCEC and that the overhaul is aimed at purging this lot and neutralising now a member of his top management team. Staff Writer TEFO PHEAGE reports top management. It is said the move to dismantle the top echelons of DCEC has left the organisa- he Office of the President (OP) has carried out a major DPP and prosecutor in the P100 billion saga, Priscilla Israel. Some tion’s director, Katlholo, in a difficult po- overhaul of top management of the Directorate on Corrup- of the transferred DCEC officers who chose to remain anonymous sition. Insiders say he has registered his Ttion and Economic Crimes (DCEC) in the midst of the cor- due to fears of reprisal see hers as “a special assignment to ad- disappointment with his superiors, saying ruption buster’s acrimonious relations with its counterparts at the vance the interests of Government Enclave and reign in DCEC this is not what he signed up for when he Directorate of Intelligence and Security Service (DISS) and the director Katlholo’s independent streak”. accepted his appointment to head the cor- Directorate of Public Prosecutions. They allege that the “Butterfly” case was not the only deal ruption-busting agency in August last year. Relations between DCEC and the two other law enforcement breaker that motivated their transfers. “There are several other hot Observers say the transfers are disturbing agencies took a turn for the worse over disagreements in how to potatoes, such as the matter in which the transferor, the Permanent and lend credence to suspicions that the approach a case in which former president Ian Khama, founding Secretary to the President Emma Peloetletse, is facing corruption stated war on corruption is more lip service head of DISS Isaac Kgosi and DISS agent Wilheminah Maswabi charges,” one of the officers said. DCEC officers have allegedly than action. are accused of embezzling P100 billion from the Bank of Botswa- been under pressure to drop the corruption case involving their It is not known what these developments na. superior, Peloetletse, who recently made headlines following her mean for the P100 billion case and whether In the overhaul, Director General Tymon Katlholo’s deputy transfer to the Office of The President. Ernest Mosate has been promoted on transfer to head the anti- The three law enforcement agencies have been embroiled in a its key prosecutor Israel, now with DCEC, terrorism financing unit, lead investigator Andre German has been protracted conflict over P100 billion allegedly stolen from the cen- will still lead the matter for the state. It is transferred to DPP, principal anti-corruption officer Lebogang tral bank, a claim made and pursued single-mindedly by DISS and not known either how these transfers will Moshasho has been transferred to Mogoditshane sub-land board, DPP but strongly disputed by the central bank as custodians of the affect the DCEC’s position that there is no legal officer Tsholofelo Bareetsi and human resource manager Ag- money, which says no money has gone missing from their coffers. evidence to prosecute the “Butterly” case. nes Mothobi are also said to be amoung those transferred. The DCEC has long dismissed the case for lack of evidence and Meanwhile, the accused are counter-su- DCEC spokesman Lentswe Motshoganetsi has confirmed to this terminated its investigations after Bank of Botswana stated its po- ing the state for millions of pula for defa- publication that a number of their top officers have been trans- sition. On the other hand, DISS and the DPP are pushing for pros- mation. DPP director Stephen Tiroyakgosi ferred out but referred follow up questions to the Permanent Sec- ecution and have even engaged the head of the legal unit at South did not take this publication’s calls when retary to the President. Africa’s Afrikaner nationalist organisation, AfriForum, Advocate contacted. Among notable transfers to DCEC is second-in-command at Gerrie Nel, to assess their chances of success in the case and to THE BOTSWANA GAZEttE WEDNESDAY 02 JUNE 2021 NEWS PAGE 3 we and our chiefs to be officially recognised and respected. Otherwise the government should demol- ish boundaries of all tribal territories.” Mogodu disclosed that in due course BKC will approach the Office of the Vice President to demand feedback on progress. “Taking the government to court is another avenue that we might consider but we believe that we should first engage to the fullest,” the • BaSarwa want return of their land Khwe leader said. “If we fail to agree, we will have • Gov’t seemingly two-faced on the matter no choice but to take the government to court.” In 2017, then Minister • Khwe Council to approach OP of Local Government and Rural Development, Slum- ber Tsogwane, who is now vice president, told the 16th Session of the United Na- tions Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UN- PFII) that the Botswana Disagreement Over Basarwa Government does not rec- ognize any specific ethnic group as indigenous to the country but instead consid- Rights Remains Unresolved ers all citizens of Botswana as indigenous regardless of their tribe or ethnic identity. LETLHOGILE MPUANG gust 2019 and they seemed more than willing to en- he Botswana Kh- gage,” he said. “However, wedom Council after the general elections, (BKC) still awaits T everything went quiet. Interest Rates for feedback from the govern- ment regarding recognition “We want the of their rights as indig- June 2021 enous people and intends government to to approach the Office of the President to end the recognise and silence, the Executive Di- treat us as it rector of the organisation, Keikabile Mogodu, has does all these said. Return of their land and other tribes. We First National Bank Savings and Investments Rates recognition and respect for want to have our The following standard Savings and Investment rates will apply their rights as indigenous people, as well as entrench- land as BaKhwe ment of these in the Consti- Type of Deposit Nominal Actual Interest Minimum Account Interest Rates(%) Rates(%) Opening Balance tution of the Republic are and our chiefs (Lowest – Highest) (Lowest – Highest) (Pula) priorities in the mandate to be officially Current (Individual) Nil Nil Nil of BKC.