DIS explains BDP Palapye retreat engagement
Nnasaretha Kgamanyane | Tuesday February 12, 2019 14:44
According to DIS’ communication officer, Edward Robert, one of the organisation’s functions as mandated by the Intelligence and Security Service Act is to provide personal security to the President, Vice President, former presidents and their immediate families. He explained that their attendance at the said event were all the prescribed persons that is why its officers were present at the event.
“Section five (g) states thus the DIS provides personal protection to the former president, former president’s immediate family, the President, the President’s immediate family, the Vice President, the Vice President’s immediate family, visiting dignitaries and such other persons as the President may determine. The presence of officers of the directorate, including the director general Brigadier (retired) Peter Magosi at the said event, was guided by Sections five (g) and other strategic national security considerations that may not be disclosed due to their sensitivity,” he noted.
Robert also indicated that DIS was a political neutral public entity that executes its mandate according to established laws and national security considerations in the best interest of the country.
According to the recent reports, the BDP leadership received security alert from the DIS who warned them about possible violent disruptions at their gatherings. Last year, the BDP had to postpone the party's primary elections after they were briefed that there was possible voter fraud and planting of instigators during the hotly contested elections.
They cancelled the primaries with immediate effect. There were also allegations that BDP systems were hacked and the voters' rolls tampered with.