BCP petitions Ombudman over Khama
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Tuesday September 16, 2014 16:05
The Botswana Congress Party (BCP) has written to the Office of the Ombudsman complaining of president Ian Khama’s alleged abuse of office, public funds and resources.
In the letter, the BCP states that the nation had been increasingly unsettled with allegations of abuse of office and public funds. Furthermore, it states the allegations have the potential to cause instability if not attended to.
It states also that the alleged involvement of the president in corruption and maladministration are a matter of concern to the BCP as a major party.
The letter dated September 12, states: “We write this from the Ombudsman’s Act and in particular, section 3 thereof which provides ipissima verba as follows; ‘The Ombudsman may investigate any action taken by or on behalf of a government department or other authority to which this act applies, being action taken in the of administrative functions of that of that department or authority’.”
It further states that both the Office of the President and the Botswana Defence Force (BDF) are public entities operated and sustained with public funds. “If indeed they deployed public funds as alleged, this would be the worst form of maladministration.
The issues which form the subject of our complaint set out below are of the presidential home in Mosu where the BDF built houses for Kgosi Tawana’s son, Thapelo Olopeng, Tshekedi Khama and Jacqualine Khama.
The army has built Khama an apartment, two barracks and eight houses and the issue of ownership of the Mosu airstrip has been of national concern,” BCP secretary general Kesitegile Gobotswang said. The BCP is also concerned about the abuse of BDF planes, which the President has been seen piloting on several occasions.