I'm not implicated in the audit – Saleshando
Larona Makhaiza | Wednesday May 13, 2026 06:00
Upon assuming office, the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) government commissioned a forensic audit to expose the rot by assessing the effectiveness of governance, procurement, and financial management, amongst others. Alvarez & Marsal Middle East Limited was commissioned at P57 million.
As per the summary report received by President Duma Boko recently, it disclosed that more than 80 current and former senior officials and 150 contractors, suppliers, and counterparties have been identified for special investigation.
Though the names of people implicated in the audit have not been disclosed to the public, when addressing the media yesterday, Saleshando said he has no ounce of fear or frivolity that his name is implicated in the audit.
In the past, Saleshando has been incessantly accused of benefiting from the previous regime in tendering.
“When did I benefit? It was then coming from the opposition, they were saying the BDF tenders and general security tenders. I asked a question in the last Parliament about who was awarded tenders by Security Services, and it is now public that my name is not there. There isn’t a single company that is associated with me,” he said.
Saleshando indicated that he has never done any business with the government in the past, and he will not start doing it now. He emphasised in his time of existence, he identified himself as a politician.
“Later, there was a claim that DNESH stands for Dineo Saleshando. I am very much aware that those claims will always be repeated without evidence. At DNESH, no owner was from Botswana, and I am not there,” Saleshando rebuffed the claims.
Saleshando pointed out that he is not surprised that there are some people making speculations that his name is amongst those that siphoned billions from the country.
“It was some sort of rumour mongering that I want to avoid the forensic audit. Next thing they will say, I will be implicated in the audit, so I call you all to provide evidence to that accord,” he said.
The LoO has called on the UDC government to make the audit public and put an end to speculation about who might be implicated.
“Batswana should know where their money went and did. So, we are demanding the immediate release of the report. There is what we call value for money,” Saleshando said.
In retrospect, Saleshando vehemently said he has never done any business with the government and that he will never be amongst those in the forensic audit.
“They must bring out the information so that we see it. I am so confident, especially on the procurement part. I have not tendered for any government job since I was eligible. I am not a businessman, I am a politician, and my business interests are not in tendering,” Saleshando said.