Sibisibi refutes corruption allegations
Goitsemodimo Kaelo | Friday June 23, 2017 15:45
This follows accusations by fellow councillors and some members of the public that Sibisibi’s business was favoured to get a tender from the council. Sources claim that Sibisibi’s filling station, trading as Engen Molepolole Filling Station was given a tender to supply fuel to the council and sub councils.
It is said that this happened after the initial company, which was awarded a tender by the council to supply fuel failed to honour the agreement. Sources say that it is then that the council made a decision to terminate that contract and engage Sibisibi’s fuel station as a rescue party on a contract of two-and-half years to end in 2019. It is said that the council chairperson’s filling station was handpicked without tendering and procurement processes being followed.
However, when contacted for comment Sibisisi claimed ignorance and laughed off the accusations that he used his influence to get a tender from the council. He said that every business deal that takes place at his Engen Molepolole Filling Station solely rests on the managers of the service station.
“I have no idea what you are talking about. I am not aware that the council is doing business with my company. But in any case, business deals are done by managers who are responsible for the operations of the business. So if there is any business, I am not aware of it,” Sibisibi said.
He continued: “But I don’t think there could be any tender because filling stations cannot tender as their fuel prices are not regulated by the operators. It could only be a cash business transaction. Only wholesalers such as Engen Marketing could be given tenders to supply”.
To his knowledge, he learnt about fuel supply problems at one point when he attended a Sub Council meeting in Letlhakeng. Sibisibi said that it was reported to him that the supplier who had been engaged to supply fuel to all Kweneng sub district councils that include Molepolole/Lentsweletau, Mogoditshane/Thamaga and Letlhakeng sub-district councils has defaulted and as such, they were requesting for permission to engage local suppliers for refuelling their fleet for council business to continue. He stated that permission was granted that each sub district should find a local supplier for the time being.
“That’s as far as I know. You must know that it is that when politics get dirty. People are just doing this to try dent my political image. But there is nothing, I am not involved in the running of that petrol station,” he added.
Sibisibi is a Botswana Democratic Party councillor who was elected Kweneng District Council chairperson in 2014.
Kweneng District council secretary Goleba Kgari also dismissed the allegations. He said that the council does not have contract with any supplier after they terminated the previous tender.
Kgari could not reveal the name of the previous supplier whose contract was terminated but confirmed that they have been refuelling council vehicles at two fuel service stations, Engen Molepolole Filling Station included.
However, he said that there are no contractual obligations between the retail outlets and the council but just a normal cash transaction.
“We have no contractual obligations with them. These two were just engaged in March 2017 after the previous supplier failed to complete his obligations. Their services could stop end of this month (June) if we get another supplier,” Kgari said.
Kgari further explained that in the past, the Finance and Works Committee of the council did procurement and adjudication of tenders. He said that the Local Procurement Authorities and Asset Disposal Act of 2008, (LAPAD) dictates the processes of procurement for councils with an independent body responsible for adjudication of tenders.