Parly Committee Sends ' Self-Running' BMC Back
Innocent Selatlhwa | Tuesday October 12, 2021 06:00
The Parliamentary Committee on Statutory Bodies and State Enterprises on Friday sent three senior officials from BMC back as none was authorised to account on behalf of the commission.
Shortly after Limited Nkane, the chief financial officer (CFO) introduced himself as the accounting officer alongside chief strategy officer Brian Dioka, and a member of the Board of Commissioners Godfrey Mosimaneotsile, the trio was asked where their chief executive officer (CEO) is. It was then that the committee chaired by Nkange legislator Nevah Tshabang was told that the commission runs on autopilot operating without a CEO or acting CEO. Mosimaneotsile told the committee that the board had through their chairperson Boyce Mohutsiwa granted Nkane authority to act as accounting officer for the forum.
The committee sought proof on paper stating that there could be consequences to allow the CFO to account. He then pleaded with the committee that they be allowed to proceed and produce the letter of authority later. Tshabang then requested a break to consult with his fellow committee members and other advisors. Upon their return, Tshabang told the trio they would have to act in accordance with the BMC Act. “There is no CEO or acting CEO appointed accordingly.
The BMC Act shows that the appointing authority for the CEO or any replacement of some sort is the Minister. Nowhere is the board authorised to appoint a CEO or accounting officer of BMC. Even if we could have a resolution of the board stating that Nkane is the accounting officer, it would not be enough. We, therefore, decided to send you back. BMC is running itself. It doesn’t have a CEO and has not had a substantive CEO for several years. The last acting CEO left in May and since then it has been operating without a CEO for some time,” he said.
Tshabang said BMC issues were uncomfortable and not easy to deal with. He said the Minister should appoint a CEO. Tshabang called on the BMC board to request the Minister to make an appointment whether substantive or acting.
He said the BMC books as they see them wanted an accounting authority. Mosimaneotsile accepted the decision to send them back and promised that they would do their best to comply and do things accordingly. Efforts to get a comment from Minister for Agricultural Development and Food Security Karabo Gare hit a snag as his phone was unavailable.