Mokgware fires first bullet

Staff Writer | Thursday December 11, 2014 19:57

 

Contrary to what Motsumi told Parliament in 2010, Kgathi denied that Seleka Springs, a company associated with members of President Ian Khama’s family, has supplied the BDF and the police. “There is no tender awarded to Seleka Springs either by Botswana Defence Force or Botswana Police Service during the period 1980-1998,” Kgathi said in response to a question from Mokgware.

The denial prompted the MP for Francistown South, Wynter Mmolotsi, to accuse Kgathi of misleading Parliament, saying he was not telling the truth. The MP promised to bring evidence in today’s proceedings about Kgathi’s untruthfulness. Mmolotsi is the one who asked the December 2010 question that resulted in Motsumi admitting that Seleka Springs has supplied the police and BDF.

In her response, Motsumi said that Seleka Springs has supplied vehicles to BDF. At the time, Khama’s younger brothers, Tshekedi and Anthony, were directors of the company. Motsumi mentioned other vehicle suppliers as Zambezi Motors, Automobile Assemblies and Hyundai Motor Corporation. “Other companies that have supplied the uniform are the Gaborone Garment Industry whose directors are Gurdev Singh Chana and Amerdeep Singh.

  Botswana Cap and Helmet also supplied components of the BDF uniform and the directors are Johannes Antonius Mol, Hunter Jan Paul Mol, Peter Paul Mol and Simon Peter Makobo,” Motsumi revealed at the time. Businessman and BDP treasurer, Satar Dada,was mentioned as one of the suppliers of chicken to the BDF. 

Trade World has also supplied food to the BDF. Directors of many companies that supplied food are not known, the minister said at the time. “I wish to remind this House that the requirement for bidding companies to provide information on their company directors is recent and therefore it was not in place during the period in question,” she explained. A few months after answering the question, Motsumi was re-deployed to India as high Commissioner.