Whilst for security reasons Mmegi is unable to publish the names of the senior government officials, but we can confidently name that these were judges, top civil servant, two private lawyers, a few State lawyers and Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC) investigators. The list of names are mostly characterised by individuals who handle criminal cases involving former President Ian Khama. According to a source, the past administration as approved by Masisi, classified the individuals' lives under threat that required 24 hours protection of the intelligence unit because their roles in investigating and prosecuting the cases, according to Masisi’s regime, made them prime targets for political retribution.
The scale of the protection included armed escorts, bulletproof vehicles, which are serviced and fuelled by the DIS, were at their disposal, some dating as far back as 2020. When assuming power, the new President was briefed by the armed forces of all their operations, which included VIP protection. Boko’s administration has been signalling a shift away from the entrenched dynamics of the past government and his latest move appears to be the clearest indication yet that the new government is intent on dismantling structures of the past. In a country where the public sector struggles with underfunding and inefficiencies, the costs associated with maintaining these high-security arrangements had become a heated debate with some quarters arguing that the protection was increasingly seen as a "waste of resources," particularly given the perceived threat to these individuals.
Mmegi sent questions to the DIS about the development to which they responded, through their spokesperson Edward Robert: “My office is not in a position to speak to specific deployment as that has the potential to breach the DIS Act.” He further explained: “However, on a general note, you will understand that the mandate of the DIS is two pronged. There is the Intelligence part that places the burden to gather intelligence in order to secure the interests of the country on the Directorate. The DIS also carries the responsibility to guarantee national security. The security aspect is so broad as to include protection of vital installations as well as personal protection to identified VIPs. These include the President and his immediate family, the Vice President and his immediate family, former presidents and their spouses as well as visiting dignitaries.”
Section 5 (g) of the DIS Act further empowers the President of the Republic to extend personal protection by the DIS to such other persons as the President may determine. In reaching this decision, the President would in most cases be facilitated by security assessment that the DIS would have made on such persons. These security assessments are made from time to time and this could result in new deployments or reviewing of the prevailing status regarding deployments. Security threats, at personal or country level, are not static. Threat levels keep on changing. That is why threat assessments are conducted from time to time and appropriate action taken, Robert further explained.
