Politics push Seretse out of DCEC
Innocent Selatlhwa | Friday July 28, 2017 16:06
Probably, Seretse long felt it in her blood as events continued to unfold in her docket. It is not a good thing, but certainly not a new strategy for the ruling elite to redeploy people who seemingly fail to toe the line. Kenny Kapinga, formerly deputy commissioner and an envoy, got a shocking redeployment as the latter when he was expected to take over as police commissioner because he reportedly did not toed the line to the chagrin of his principals.
Certainly, in her effort to assert herself in leading the war against corruption and economic crime, Seretse, the outgoing director general of the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC) and her team of crack investigators have rubbed the powers-that-be the wrong way. They have left a trail of destruction in the government enclave. Seretse’s new appointment effects from September 1.
They have touched the ‘untouchables’ of our society. The Who-is-Who and the ruling elite have not been spared in the fight against corruption.
This was an effort by Seretse and the DCEC to prove to all and sundry that the DCEC which has been discredited as ‘toothless’ in some quarters and only chasing the ‘small-fish’ of our society has the wherewithal to catch even the so-called ‘big-fish’.
In her tenure at the helm of the DCEC, Seretse has faced trials and tribulations that she had to overcome in pursuit of corruption and economic crime suspects. She rose through the ranks after joining the Directorate in 1997 as a senior corruption prevention officer.
Described as a shrewd administrator, Seretse’s administration is associated with good governance, fairness and even under pressure she remained calm and collected.
At some stage, she had to deal with the interfering and invincible hand of her principals and threats from the Directorate on Intelligence and Security Services (DIS).
Mmegi is on good authority that Seretse leaves the DCEC a frustrated lot as her wish was to leave the corruption buster having set an example that the DCEC has no fear for even the so-called big-fish but it deals with evidence which determines it to prosecute or not.
Information gathered by Mmegi from inside the DCEC is that one of the things that has affected her relationship with the appointing authorities is that last year, she followed the DCEC Act and suspended Permanent Secretary to the President’s (PSP) sidekick and DCEC investigations head, Emmanuel Phuthego for allegedly leaking information on some investigations without authority to do so.
From the advent of the suspension of Morupisi’s protégé, relations were never the same and her transfer out of the DCEC to those in the know, has fast been coming.
In one of the interesting developments that led to the suspension of Phuthego, is reportedly that whilst Seretse was outside the country in Tanzania on official business, the then deputy director general Botlhale Makgekgenene was forced to report on progress of the investigations relating to corruption allegations to Morupisi.
These are allegations leveled against Minister Prince Maele and a Malawian-born businessman, Simbi Phiri and his civil engineering company known as Khato Civils.
To the shock of the entire DCEC team, there was a quick leak on the investigations to the media and infact; the Maele/Phiri allegations have proven the DCEC to be very porous in terms of handling their investigations files.
After Phuthego had granted a local newspaper an interview, Seretse took a bold step and interdicted him whilst internal investigations were ongoing into his conduct.
It goes without saying that this decision, no matter how lawful it could be, has definitely rubbed some people in authority the wrong way especially those closer to Phuthego.
Phuthego and Morupisi have known each other way back before their offices brought them even closer. They are reportedly on first name basis.
Makgekgenene has since been transferred to the Ministry of Defence, Justice and Security.
Unconfirmed reports show that Morupisi is interested in contesting for the Lerala-Maunatlala constituency parliamentary seat, as there are villagers who are reportedly interested in his leadership.
PSP Morupisi is said to be causing an upset in Lerala-Maunatlala constituency as he cultivates and prepares his political path to replace area MP, Prince Maele.
“Maele, who is also Minister of Land Management, Water and Sanitation Services, is allegedly an unhappy man as the PSP is always in his constituency without his knowledge as area MP. Morupisi is tipped to battle for the constituency against Maele during the BDP’s Bulela- Ditswe billed for 2018,” as a report carried in a local newspaper recently suggested.
“Morupisi’s presence according to sources in the constituency has caused tension among democrats, especially the branch committee, the MP and councillors. Others believe the PSP is indirectly campaigning under the guise of his portfolio in government. BDP insiders have linked the PSP to the Vice President and BDP chairman Mokgweetsi Masisi’s camp,” further reports the local newspaper.
On the other side, Seretse had reportedly vowed to leave the DCEC after ensuring that allegations against Minister Maele were cleared by the courts of law. In the government enclave, the Maele case although nothing is yet to be determined, is considered to be having a potential of tarnishing the President Ian Khama-led Cabinet.
Maele recently published a full-page rebuttal in a local newspaper distancing himself from the allegations that he had received a bribe by virtue of his office from Phiri of Khato Civils. He would also blame some powerful people in the government enclave to be responsible for tarnishing his image through the reports. He did not mention names.
At a time when the country’s political parties are readying themselves for the 2019 general elections as a ‘united’ force, allegations of accepting bribery by a state minister could potentially tarnish the image of the ruling party.
Now, for Seretse to pursue such a case could be harmful to the image of the individual involved or even harm the image of the Khama-led Cabinet and his (Khama’s) legacy as he exits the presidency on April 1 next year.
The unexpected transfer of Seretse is seen as an effort to silence her as at some stage she had to gather enough courage and to inform Morupisi that she was not reporting to him, but to Khama, especially relating to the Maele case. Nonetheless, Morupisi got what he wanted from the DCEC.
In an interview this week at his office, Morupisi laughed off claims that he wants to unseat Maele in the build up to the 2019 elections.
“People who say those things are just speculating and it does not bother me. I am a public officer and I cannot discuss politics,” he insisted. He declined to state whether or not he has ambitions of joining active politics, stating that he is still a committed public officer.
Quizzed about his role of moving Seretse and other officials, Morupisi was diplomatic and pointed out that he was only a messenger.
“The appointment was made by President Khama while some of the posts were by state ministers and my duty was to announce,” the PSP explained his role after five appointments of senior officers were made this week.
On being pressed further as to the role he played in the recent appointments, Morupisi said he played an advisory role to the President in appointing the listed officers.
He however, would not discuss the counsel he exactly rendered. Questioned about his direct links to the DCEC, Morupisi denied having any links to the corruption-busting agency. “I do not get involved with DCEC work. They are an independent body,” he quipped.
Quizzed further about the call he allegedly made to the DCEC recently asking about the investigations involving Maele on behalf of President Khama, Morupisi said: “I will not talk about the issue and I cannot be discussing with you anything on what the President sends me to do.” He admitted to knowing the interdicted head of DCEC investigations, Phuthego but denied any intentions by him in helping him (Phuthego) get reinstated.
“We worked together at the then Ministry of Infrastructure, Science and Technology (MIST), that is as far as I know him,” he gesticulated emphasising his point.
On being pressed further if he and Phuthego had any links outside work, Morupisi denied any except to mention that he went to school with Phuthego’s elder brother in the late 70’s.
Interviewed from her office, Seretse denied being pushed out. “I wasn’t pushed out as far as I know. I played my role here (at DCEC) and I’m happy with my new appointment as it shows progression,’ she stressed .
Seretse denied any knowledge of Morupisi and Maele fights taking place at her organisation or at least relating to a case they are investigating.
She also said that she was not aware of any interference by Morupisi in their investigations against both Maele and Phuthego. She has started clearing her desk as part of her exit.