BURS to probe Swiss bank account holders?
Friday, February 20, 2015

The official, who asked not to be named, said an investigation would start once the service obtained the names of the account-holders, either from informants or media reports. Attempts to get an official statement from BURS this week were unsuccessful.
Botswana law requires the declaration of foreign accounts so that earnings on these investments can be taxed.
Instead, it has sparked a storm of accusations, denials, and unresolved questions about the influence of De Beers on the nation’s politics. Former president Mokgweetsi Masisi’s claims that the diamond giants bankrolled his removal to dodge taxes – and that the new Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) government watered down a favourable diamond deal – are explosive matters. But without evidence, they risk becoming a toxic distraction from...