BTO spins web of mystery around tourism levy
Innocent Selatlhwa | Thursday November 30, 2017 18:44
Yesterday, Environment, Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism permanent secretary (PS), Jimmy Opelo told legislators, who are part of a Parliamentary body on Statutory Bodies, that the ministry had cancelled its contract with the UK company.
Moments later, much to the MPs’ surprise, BTO acting chief executive officer, Zibanani Hubona said the contract was still in existence. The discord highlights the confusion that has reigned in the Ministry and the BTO in the attempts to introduce the $30 levy, which, by some estimates, was to reap billions of pula for the country.
Critics of the levy said it was not only a disincentive to tourist arrivals, but was the product of a poor consultation process in which Minister Tshekedi Khama attempted to steamroll the levy through Parliament.
Opelo told Parliament’s Committee on Statutory Bodies and State Enterprises that following legislators’ disapproval of the manner in which the contract had come about, the ministry had decided to cancel it and withdraw the proposed Bill introducing the levy so that “we could follow the right procedure”.
During the BTO’s appearance before the committee last year, the former PS and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the organisation openly expressed displeasure at the way the contract had come about.
They testified that Khama had written a letter to the then CEO Thabo Dithebe instructing that a contract be signed with the UK-firm without following normal procurement procedures.
“We have since cancelled the contract after getting advice before this committee.
“The contract was cancelled sometime late last year. We had gone around shopping for a potential company to assist with the levy and we found them before the minister authorised the contract,” Opelo said.
Opelo told the committee that not only had there not been any study undertaken to inform the establishment of the levy, but in the allocation of the $30 levy, government would take only $12. When MPs asked whether the ministry was liable for any costs after cancelling the contract, Opelo said there would be no liability for the payment kiosks already installed at the borders due to a contractual arrangement.
Committee chairperson and Tati East legislator, Samson Moyo Guma had strong words for Khama, as PS left the hearing.
“You must go and tell the minister to stop abusing office and authority. Also as the PS, you must maintain order within the ministry.
We are going to prepare a report and present it to Parliament,” he said.
Shockingly, after Opelo exited the hearing, Hubona appeared and told the legislators that the contract was still in play.
“I am not aware of any cancellation.
If it indeed happened, then I do not have the details. The termination can only happen through the CEO with orders from the board and the board has never ordered such,” he said.
Yesterday’s shambles were the continuation of problems the ministry and the BTO has had before the parliamentary committee.
In the past appearances before the committee, Khama was accused of micromanaging BTO and spending about a year without appointing a board.
He was accused of taking decisions unilaterally which former CEO, Dithebe said had contributed to him (Dithebe) quitting the job.