Lekalake implicates Masisi in CMB scandal
Oarabile Mosikare | Friday November 2, 2018 18:00
This has been detailed in an affidavit deposed by one Moitsheki ‘Cheks’ Lekalake to the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC) on June 15, 2018.
Lekalake was asked by the DCEC to provide an explanation regarding a number of financial transactions, in particular payments made into the account of Varsity League, a company in which he is the sole director and shareholder.
He said subsequent to its incorporation, Varsity League was engaged by Capital Management Africa (CMA) represented by its chief executive officer Tim Marsland to undertake two transactions. Its mandate was to find appropriate and suitable assets for CMA to purchase.
He disclosed that on May 31, 2017 he made P110, 000 donation to the then vice president Mokgweetsi Masisi “for the campaign for BDP [Botswana Democratic Party] chairmanship.
Funds handed over in cash to the campaign fund raiser Honourable Sadique Kebonang for onwards transmission”.
CMB, an asset management firm, is currently embroiled in a legal battle over a disputed sum in excess of P550 million of public pension fund assets.
The row stems back to a 2014 deal with the Botswana Public Officers Pension Fund (BPOPF). Citizen-owned insurer, Bona Life also reported CMB to Non-Bank Financial Institutions Regulatory Authority (NBFIRA) over P133 million in assets under management.
The pension fund and Bona Life are unhappy about the manner in which the funds were managed.
A BDP insider said: “It looks like things will get worse before they get better in the BDP. BDP is a party at war with itself.
With BDP factions at each other’s throats it seems nothing is off limits as secrets come out.
Just this week, The President threw Permanent Secretary to the President Carter Morupisi under the bus by saying he (Masisi) was not aware of the withdrawal of staff from the residence and office of former president Ian Khama”. He explained that given the offices and personalities involved, there is no way, Morupisi could have been so confident to make the kind of decisions he made without the express or implied authority of the sitting President.
“Had it not been for public outcry Masisi would have not reacted. One of Masisi’s weakness is that he is too sensitive to criticism.
He, however, needs to know he cannot be loved by everyone.”
He said as demonstration of his anti-corruption drive, Masisi needs to disclose which companies funded him and which people were in charge of soliciting funding for him.
CMB has lost a battle to clear its name of stinging accusations from the BPOPF and regulator, NBFIRA concerning numerous alleged acts of maladministration and possible crimes, is being investigated by the DCEC.
In the course of the DCEC investigation, eight CMB vehicles were seized, crippling the firm’s operations, something its director, Rapula Okaile and the company challenged in vain at the High Court.
Interestingly, though the PSP, Carter Morupisi has denied conflict of interest in the CMB ongoing troubles, Mmegi investigations have found evidence that links the two.
It has become apparent that at least one of the cars impounded recently by DCEC links a close family member of the PSP to the directors of CMB.
Sometime in March 2018, the DCEC confiscated a double cab Land Cruiser with registration number B 587 BEW belonging to the PSP’s wife, Pinny.
Morupisi has in previous media interviews even confirmed the vehicle belongs to his wife and was purchased from a company in South Africa.
Mmegi investigations indicate that the said company, Manor Squad Services of 16 Aster Street, based in Brackenhurst in Durban, South Africa, bought the Land Cruiser. One of the directors of Manor Squad Services is Okaile.
It was bought for a total R630,388.99 from CMH Group dealership on December 14, 2016.
It is important to note that Pinny registered the car in Okaile’s home address in Block 6, Gaborone. The vehicle has been registered as belonging to R7 Group (PTY) Ltd, with a plot number (withheld) in Block 6 Gaborone. Companies and Intellectual Property Authority (CIPA) checks reveal that R7 Group belongs to Pinny and was registered in Serowe.
The investigation at Department of Deeds also revealed that the Block 6 house number is Okaile’s address and has been attached under one of the cases in which the DCEC is investigating Okaile for alleged corruption.
Those close to the case say it is very strange to have Morupisi’s wife register a car and provide Okaile’s residential address. This, they say, demonstrates the strong ties between the Okailes and Morupisis.