Mmolotsi unhappy with answer to BDF tender question

LEKOPANYE MOOKETSI
Correspondent | Friday February 25, 2011 00:00

Mmolotsi asked the acting Minister of Defence, Justice and Security how suppliers who won Botswana Defence Force (BDF) tenders between 1990 and 2000 knew about their existence as those tenders were never advertised. 

Responding to the question, the acting Minister Edwin Batshu told Parliament that between 1990 and 2000, procurement in the BDF was conducted through a Special Tender Board (STB) set up under the auspices of the Central Tender Board (CTB).

He said procurement generally covered all required suppliers for operational capability and efficiency of the BDF including food items, vehicles, boats and uniforms. 

'Under this arrangement, the procuring entity would approach known suppliers to provide quotations for supplying required items.  These quotations would be processed and awarded by the Special Tender Board.

This arrangement was put in place with all security related tenders,' Batshu said. 

In a follow up oral question, Mmolotsi wanted to know about the approach that was used.

He also asked whether it was by coincidence that the suppliers were Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) members.

Batshu said suppliers who were approached were the ones who were selling the required products.  He said even foreign suppliers could be approached to provide quotations. 

Speaking in an interview, Mmolotsi said he was not happy with the minister's response. 

'The minister has not put my mind to rest with his response.  The answer is still not convincing. He said people were approached to provide goods.  What criteria was used?  How did they get to know who was supplying what,? he asked.

'If the tenders were not advertised, how did the suppliers know about them?  How did they know all the suppliers?  How did they know about the foreign companies?' he wondered.

To him, there is 'something fishy somewhere.' 

He said this issue needs to be cleared.  Mmolotsi wants to know the procedure that was followed. 

In December, Mmolotsi asked the former acting Minister of Defence, Justice and Security, Motsumi the same question.  He asked how many BDF tenders were awarded between 1990 and 2000?  He also wanted to know which companies were awarded tenders to supply vehicles, uniform, food and boats between 1990 and 2000.  He also wanted to know the directors of the companies. 

It emerged that some of the companies that were awarded the tenders included those of prominent BDP figures like Satar Dada.  Another company which benefited was Lesedi Motors, which was owned by the current assistant Minister of Finance and Development Planning, Charles Tibone and Dada.

The companies that are owned by President Ian Khama's brothers, Tshekedi Khama and Anthony Khama were also some of the beneficiaries.  During the same period, the companies that are owned by the Khama brothers were some of the major suppliers to the BDF.  This was also at a time when Ian Khama was the BDF commander until he retired in 1998.

When she was asked how the suppliers knew about the tenders since they were never advertised, Motsumi said she did not know. 

According to some sources, the response that Motsumi gave to parliament did not go well with president Ian Khama.  They are also saying that he was not happy that she mentioned the directors of companies.  It is believed that this is why Ian Khama demoted Motsumi and offered her a diplomatic post.

Sources revealed that initially officials at the Office of the President provided Motsumi with a response that did not have the names of the directors.  However, she is said to have insisted that they should name the directors.