Media under siege
Friday, April 29, 2016
Collins Newman and Company lawyers arriving at Lobatse High Court. PIC: MORERI SEJAKGOMO
In this tussle stands the powerful Collins Newman and Company (CNC) led by managing partner Parks Tafa and senior partner Rizwan Desai. The trio wants Business Weekly and Review, managing editor Tshireletso Motlogelwa and reporter Keabetswe Newel to stop publication of ‘defamatory’ articles about them.
Established in 1977, the firm prides itself as providing “premier experience in the corporate, commercial and mining fields and has become known for its dynamic, resolution focused and client oriented approach. The firm contributes a significant amount of experience in all areas of law in Botswana, acting for a broad spectrum of financial institutions, multinational and national corporations, and most state enterprises”.
That a single private law firm pocketed P6.5 million for just four cases, out of a total P11.1 million paid for 25 matters, reeks of a system that was not merely disorganised but open to abuse.Bayford has taken a welcome first step by telling the Public Accounts Committee the truth. Now he must act decisively to ensure it never happens again and that any money lost to wrongdoing is recovered.The figures are staggering. Whilst ordinary Batswana...