According to sources, Council Authorities accuse Mengwe of meddling in the tendering processes of councils without any justification. Council authorities are reportedly crying foul that after failing to action valuation of properties since he was seconded from the then Ministry of Lands and Housing back in 2010 to assist with valuation of properties, Mengwe now wants to overstep his authority. Amongst the crimes he is accused of, Mengwe is alleged to have demanded access to tender documentation and contracts entered into with awarded contractors in Gaborone and Francistown. He allegedly managed to get the Francistown tender documents and called on valuation officers to withhold payment of the contractor with a view to cancel the tender. Authorities in Gaborone City Council (GCC) have allegedly thwarted his efforts to meddle with their tenders indicating that he has no authority to do so. “It is very worrisome that we have someone who also owns a valuation company interfering with the work of the Council outside the law. Councils are body corporates and follow set laws and regulations to procure goods and services. There is also an adjudicating body that takes care of everything before the Town Clerk would confirm that all is in order. Now, the Town Clerk is undermined by someone who has no authority and also runs a similar business. It raises eyebrows and worries much that he can call any other officer than the Town Clerk and does not even do that in writing,” a source said.
Rating valuation in Botswana is currently regulated by the newly amended Local Government Act (2012) and the Townships Act of 1955 and regulations of 2019. The Acts require a revaluation to be done every after five years based on the capital value method of valuation.
