Cheating Allegations Soil Mrs Botswana
Monday, October 14, 2019
Maureen Mothuba. PIC: KENNEDY RAMOKONE
The pageant that was started to cater for married women has had its fair share of troubles since its inception. But this year’s pageant has raised eyebrows and made headlines in the newspapers for all the wrong reasons.
“We were told that the top seven would be announced at the finale. But to our surprise it was not the top seven but the top eight,” said the contestants’ spokesperson, Belinda Mabote at a press briefing last Thursday.
Whilst celebrating milestones in inclusivity, with notably P5 billion awarded to vulnerable groups, the report sounds a 'siren' on a dangerous and growing trend: the ballooning use of micro-procurement. That this method, designed for small-scale, efficient purchases, now accounts for a staggering 25% (P8 billion) of total procurement value is not a sign of agility, but a 'red flag'. The PPRA’s warning is unequivocal and must be...