State agencies pushing a political agenda?
Correspondent | Friday June 7, 2019 12:19
According to highly placed sources within the intelligence community, the main target in this campaign include former Director General of the DIS Isaac Kgosi and those close to former president Ian Khama. The new DIS Director General Peter Magosi spearheads this onslaught.
The use of public institutions in the political shenanigans of the BDP has been a source of concern to some within the opposition. Of late, state institutions have been accused to pursue a political witch-hunt against the Leader of Opposition Duma Boko. These institutions have consistently denied their involvement in BDP’s political and factional wars but recent evidence suggests otherwise.
Apparently, the BDP is deeply concerned with the positive sentiments and popularity of Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) leader Duma Boko. The formation of the BPF has only deepened BDP’s fears of losing state power come October 2019. It is reported that these fears have apparently resulted in President Mokgweetsi Masisi considering calling a snap general election to counter the UDC gains and the possible effects of the BPF.
It is reported that President Masisi and the BDP are faced with a lot of uncertainty ahead of the general elections. The possibility of a major shake-up within the BDP Members of Parliament who are allegedly loyal to Khama and his BPF yet are still with BDP is a major source of concern for the BDP. There are suspicions that some BDP MPs will defect to the BPF on the July Parliament session, which will further weaken the ailing BDP.
According to the dubious stratagem, the targets will be harassed, intimidated and even placed in custody to promote the narrative that Masisi and the BDP are serious about fighting corruption. Further the strategy is to harness the support of the public and shed negative light on persons who are opposed to the BDP. Indications are that the BDP are panicking and resorting to these underhand tactics to show the public they are strong on taking corruption. To date, there is no tangible proof, which supports the narrative that Masisi is serious about his anti-corruption talk. No major prosecution has been done to date.
It has been disclosed that in an attempt to embarrass Masisi’s enemies, old cases were revived to prosecute Kgosi and his associates. Previously, authorities have found insufficient evidence implicating Kgosi. The case involves a P200, 000 contract to provide security to Debswana by a shelf company and as the DIS did not have one Debswana management agreed to use Kgosi’s company, Silver Shadows. It has been established that 16 people, including employees of Debswana were recently interviewed by the DPP in a rushed attempt to prosecute Kgosi and possibly to neutralise the newly formed BPF.
In this Debswana case, it is said that permission was sought to facilitate the procurement of equipment for DIS officers through Kgosi’s company, Silver Shadows, as they could not do it through government. The supplier was paid in full and the balance was handed over to the then DIS Corporate Director who was responsible for finance. It is now clear why security agents have visited Kgosi’s house so many times than his friends and relatives; to frustrate and embarrass him, his family and close associates. The agents are trying by all means possible to manipulate and manufacture evidence in order to achieve a nefarious agenda.
It is worth noting that Kgosi’s attorneys have written to authorities on several occasions about threat to his life and nothing has been done. What a shame! Where is Botswana heading? On a daily basis, we see Magosi running all over the show promising to prosecute Kgosi and those against the BDP government as if he is the head of the DPP. What happened to the independence of the DPP?
*Mooketsi Diphetogo is a Mmegi contributor