DIS speaks out
Ryder Gabathuse | Monday November 15, 2021 06:31
Mmegi: Upon DIS DG Magosi assuming his position some three years ago, there were promises of transforming the agency into an accessible and respectable outfit for gathering intelligence and security. Lately, perception has been drifting with fears that the DIS is being used to harass the nemesis of the State, perceived or real. What is your comment on this?
DIS: Since his ascendency as director-general in 2018, Brigadier Magosi has successfully opened the directorate to its stakeholders and built relationships that promote regular access to many of its services. This can be vouched for by, amongst others, journalists as well as ordinary members of the public who continue to access the directorate without inhibition. While the directorate understands that it will always attract scrutiny due to the nature of its work, it continues to carry out its services diligently and according to requirements of the Intelligence and Security Service Act (2008) and other laws of Botswana.
Mmegi: Concerns abound that the DIS DG Magosi, who previously had ‘altercations’ with former president Khama and his ally former DIS DG Kgosi, is now using his office to persecute both Khama and Kgosi. How true are these allegations?
DIS: The directorate has responsibilities established by the Intelligence and Security Service Act (2008) and other laws of Botswana, which it performs impartially. Understandably, the directorate, His Excellency the former president Lieutenant General Khama and Colonel Isaac Kgosi will not always agree on all issues related to the established mandate of the directorate and how it should be carried out. This should not be surprising as the two are a former head of state and former director-general who may for one reason or another hold strong and critical views about different things. The directorate, however, always performs its mandate in the best interest of the country’s national security.
Mmegi: Don’t you think the actions meted out on Khama/Kgosi are purely vengeful and not based on any real threat or the alleged commission of offences?
DIS: The directorate has responsibilities established by the Intelligence and Security Service Act (2008) and other laws of Botswana, which it carries out impartially. Notwithstanding differences of opinion, the directorate performs its mandate professionally and under the laws of the country.
Mmegi: For emphasis, are we not seeing personal battles in the Magosi and Khama/Kgosi battles masquerading as security threats?
DIS: While the directorate notes the criticism, it should be understood that the directorate would always be scrutinised in this way regardless of the sitting President or director-general. As you may be aware, similar criticism was levelled against the directorate under the previous administration. This feedback plays an important role in the discourse at the core of how the directorate should be continually transformed and is duly noted.
Mmegi: For the first time in the history of our presidency as an institution, we see former president Khama and the incumbent President Masisi not in talking terms. What is happening at the two offices?
DIS: The directorate is not able to answer for the alleged fallout between the former and current President as that goes beyond the scope of its mandate. Feel free to direct this question to the Office of President and the former president Khama’s office.
Mmegi: In short, an impression has been created that President Masisi and the DIS DG Magosi have been all out to persecute Khama, Kgosi and their allies. What’s your reaction to that?
DIS: No provision in the DIS Act empowers the directorate to persecute anyone. Employees of the directorate understand that their protection lies in them respecting the law and that acting outside the dictates of the law will be detrimental to the directorate and the country. When the directorate approaches the courts of law with the belief that a citizen may have broken the law, all due processes are followed and at the end of the day, it is the decision of the courts that carry the day.
Mmegi: It all started with Khama being denied air transport (BDF aeroplanes), which he favoured so much, and escalated to the issue of the number plates of government vehicles allocated to Khama being seized from him. The question is, what was wrong with his continued use of the number plates in particular?
DIS: The allocation of resources to former presidents is an official prerogative of the government that is carried out according to the established laws of Botswana.
Unless there is a stated basis to justify changes in policies and protocols, where it concerns the DIS, the procedure is always to render services to them professionally and impartially. As previously stated to the media, former president Khama’s continued use of registration numbers BX 0001 and BX 0002 was contrary to the established VIP protocols set out by the Central Transport Organisation.
The registration numbers are as per that policy reserved for sitting presidents and vice presidents. This policy has applied without variation under all sitting presidents of Botswana.
Mmegi: Would you say the number plates were also a security threat?
DIS: These considerations are standard VIP protocols that apply across the world where protective services are provided. Unless there is a stated basis to justify incidental changes in the policy and protocols, the directorate is obliged to retain the uniform application of these requirements for former president Khama as for former president Dr Festus Mogae and as it was the case for the late former president Sir Ketumile Masire.
Mmegi: Why did the DIS take the initiative of reducing Khama’s security detail?
DIS: The size of all former presidents’ security detail, including former president Khama, is advised by security assessments conducted by the directorate from time to time. For example, the security detail of former president Mogae was considerably scaled-down after a similar assessment, which determined that no risk existed to justify an oversized security detail. Other resources were also scaled down for the same reason and prudence. Similarly, resources related to the secure upkeep of former president Masire were scaled down owing to reduced risks but also because it was imperative due to lack of resources. Likewise, the directorate applies this policy to former president Khama since no risks have been flagged by any security assessment justifying a bigger security detail or more resources.
Mmegi: It looks like the DIS further decided to transfer Khama’s bodyguards when he seemed comfortable with the team deployed to guard him. Why?
DIS: The deployment of security personnel for former presidents is the prerogative of the DIS per its establishing Act and other government policies. This is also the established standard practice for protective security the world over and is done in the best interest of the former heads of states. Specific to the redeployment of the officers in question, it should be noted that it was established that most of the officers were deployed under former president Khama for at least 10 years.
The officers, like other officers, expressed a desire for professional development, training and progression and this was taken into consideration when Magosi was addressing staff welfare issues.
Mmegi: Could you explain why the DIS was against Kgosi being employed as Khama’s private secretary, a position he held before?
DIS: Recruitment of staff, except for those that form part of the security detail of former presidents is the prerogative of the Office of the President. I would advise you to re-direct the question to OP.
Mmegi: There was a time when information circulated indicating that President Masisi feared for his life to occupy the State House, which was previously occupied by Khama, fearing that it might have been wired for espionage purposes by the former president. Could there be any truth in this?
DIS: It should be noted that all caution is taken to improve and address gaps in the security standards of all incoming presidents where they exist. This undertaking affects all facilities that will be used by an incoming president and are done in their best interest. This has happened following the retirement of former presidents Masire, Mogae and indeed former president Khama. This is a standard practice that will happen even after the tenure of His Excellency President Masisi. It is also public knowledge that some renovations had to be made at the State House before the new President could move in after it was determined that such was necessary.
Mmegi: This also takes us to issues of security threats touted by the head of the DIS Magosi suggesting that the life of President Masisi was under threat with some people wanting to kill him (Masisi). Is the life of President Masisi still threatened?
DIS: Threats identified in respect of sitting presidents are identified through continuous threat assessments. Several threats assessments have been conducted since His Excellency the President ascended to the office and will not stop until he retires.
The directorate will continue to update relevant bodies as and when necessary. The director-general has in the past taken the liberty to share with the public what the directorate’s position on the security of the head of state was, and as and when he considers it prudent to do so, he will do so.
Mmegi: I may not have statistics to back my position, but from the look of things, Kgosi leads the pack of civil servants in terms of arrests, searches and charges emanating from the office of the DIS DG. What has this man done to deserve such actions against him?
DIS: Kgosi, as a former director-general, like other directors-general after him including Brigadier Magosi, will always be subject to all the laws of Botswana. It should not be surprising that like other sitting or former public officials, where investigating and or prosecuting authorities have established a reasonable basis to subject them to the law, they like all citizens of Botswana may be taken through the judicial process where they stand an equal chance to vindicate themselves against arising allegations. This is a mark of the rule of law for which Botswana has gained a good reputation over the years.
Mmegi: There are fears that you seem determined as the directorate to pin Kgosi down, no matter how vague or insufficient evidence you have. In other words, the DIS looks like it wants to see Kgosi guilty. What’s your comment on this?
DIS: It is not for the directorate to pronounce an accused person guilty or not guilty. That is for the courts to decide. Ours is to assist efforts towards gathering evidence on whose strength a decision to prosecute or not to prosecute will be made. Even then the prosecuting authority decides on the prosecution.
Mmegi: People have generally been worried that you have not been telling the public what Khama and Kgosi in particular have done to deserve what they term ‘harassment by the DIS’?
DIS: Concerning issues before the courts, the directorate is not able to discuss specifics regarding these issues, as they are subjudice. However, for the issues that have already been decided by the courts, the information is already in the public domain and has been widely covered in the media.
Mmegi: You have ordered Khama and Kgosi to hand in their weapons, which seems so weird against the former head of state and former DIS head. What has precipitated the searches?
DIS: Former presidents and former heads of security organs are, like all citizens, subject to laws and all ethics of accountability. Where it is necessary, from time to time, public officials may be lawfully required to comply with established security protocols and regulations and other policies integral to promoting the rule of law. This should not be a surprise as it happens to public officials from time to time and is often covered by the media.
Mmegi: Do you think the duo of Khama and Kgosi has too many weapons, more than they qualify to keep in their possessions?
DIS: The directorate does not disclose specific internal operational information to the media as it would not only be unprofessional but against the requirements of the Intelligence and Security Service Act (2008).
Mmegi: Do you have any weapons missing from the state armouries that you suspect could be in their possession? If so, why are these guns missing?
DIS: The directorate does not disclose specific internal operational information to the media, as it would be unlawful and unprecedented.
Mmegi: Please deny or confirm worrying flagrant flouting of procurement procedures mainly detected during your checks from the directorate inventories, if any?
DIS: The director-general has gone on record indicating that upon assuming the office, he observed that it was not immediately possible to do a proper audit of the directorate’s equipment owing to poor or no inventory keeping. He, however, promised to do everything possible, no matter how long it takes to ensure there is accountability.
Mmegi: Do you think both Khama and Kgosi could be hiding weapons anywhere in the country?
DIS: The directorate does not disclose specific internal operational information to the media as it would not only be unprofessional but against the requirements of the Intelligence and Security Service Act.
Mmegi: What type of weapons are missing which you think Khama and Kgosi could have taken from the state armouries?
DIS: The directorate does not disclose specific internal operational information to the media as it would not only be unprofessional but against the requirements of the Intelligence and Security Service Act.
Mmegi: Are there any offences committed by the duo in possessing their weapons registered with the arms registry?
DIS: The directorate does not disclose specific internal operational information to the media as it would not only be unprofessional but against the requirements of the Intelligence and Security Service Act.