BTO spins web of mystery around tourism levy :: Mmegi Online

The contentious tourism levy, rejected by legislators in the winter Parliament, is now at the heart of a mystery in the Botswana Tourism Organisation (BTO) over the hiring and termination of a United Kingdom-based administrator to manage the levy’s collection.

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.

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