BCP wants ailing Merafhe to �pay back the money�
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Friday August 29, 2014 15:52
The BCP wants the court to issue an order directing the president to disclose documentary evidence of each payment and the value amount accorded to Merafhe. They want the court to declare that all such payments were made unlawfully and illegally.
“There was no constitutional basis of making such payments and/or awarding such payments. There was also no legislative basis for making the payments and awarding the benefits. That such payments and award of benefits were not based on any established rule of practice,” read the court papers. The BCP also wants court to declare that the Green Book has no legislative and constitutional foundation and therefore cannot be relied upon for the purposes contended by the president.
It wants an order interdicting the president or any state official from making any payments to Merafhe save for those authorised by legislation.
They also want the President to be given an order directing Merafhe to reimburse the Botswana government the total amount of such benefits and for that money to be deposited to court within six months from the date of the order.
Merafhe was appointed vice president of Botswana on 1st April 2008. At the time he was also Member of Parliament for Mahalapye West. After his retirement in 2012, government continued to assist him with a government vehicle and driver. The government has also footed his medical expenses.