BOFEPUSU Calls DIS Out
Goitsemodimo Kaelo | Tuesday December 7, 2021 06:00
BOFEPUSU secretary-general, Tobokani Rari last week that the DIS has “become a rogue, vexatious and unaccountable organisation that doesn’t respect laws and laid down democratic processes”.
Rari said the DIS has become untouchable and detached from government and has deviated from its mandate. He said the DIS has to be dissolved and be replaced by a different organisation in line with principles of democracy and good governance.
“The actions of DIS are grievously hurting democracy, the economy of this country and denting the international credentials of the Republic, something that will deter investors,” said Rari.
He stated the terror by DIS entail instances of search without warrants, detainment of citizens with refusal of access to lawyers, while others are subjected to torture and inhumane treatment. BOFEPUSU said citizens are living in fear in their own country with the DIS permeating in the mandate of almost of other institutions and thereby becoming the hub and beehive of corruption and decay in democracy.
“We are worried that DIS is well-funded and hugely resourced, such budget is not available to important social institutions such as health to provide COVID-19 vaccines and welfare of the workers. We call on President Masisi to seriously caution and [keep a tight] rein on the leadership of DIS to stick to their mandate and avoid being a national security threat as they currently are,” he said.
However, in response, the DIS has labelled BOFEPUSU’s comments as false and misleading and has challenged the federation to produce evidence to back up its accusations. In a statement from the organisation’s public relations office, it said the DIS appreciates that it will always be scrutinised by civic organisations on issues of governance and accountability.
But said it raises concern when entities like BOFEPUSU make alarming and unsubstantiated misrepresentations against a public entity merely performing its functions according to laws duly promulgated by the Parliament of Botswana.
“The Directorate challenges BOFEPUSU to produce the names of such person(s), the date, time and place of their arrest and torture as well as medical evidence supporting these claims. BOFEPUSU should be able to approach any Police Station where such allegations were reported. The Union should then release such information to the public,” read part of the DIS statement. The DIS said as far as it is concerned, all persons who have been the subject of its arrests and interrogations since 2018 are publicly known, are still alive and have been accessed by their lawyers until they got full legal recourse.
The DIS has challenged all citizens and non-citizens who have endured inhuman treatment at the hands of their officers to report alleged abuses to the Police or DIS headquarters.
BOFEPUSU's statement on the DIS comes in the wake of detainment of three members of Botswana Patriotic Front and an officer on former president Ian Khama's security detail.