Tautona Lodge has been a subject of controversy since its 2021 acquisition by the previous Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) administration. Addressing Parliament recently, Mohwasa assured legislators that if and when his ministry’s review of issues related to Tautona Lodge discovers serious impropriety, such findings will inform government’s next course of action. “It is clear from the history of the question that government’s reasons for acquiring Tautona Lodge, the association of the lodge with the DIS, and the circumstances of the procurement of the lodge were a source of great concern leading to suspicions and allegations of impropriety,” he told Parliament.
“Given this history and these suspicions, it is very clear that this question can't be addressed in a piece-meal fashion and certainly not without a comprehensive review of all the associated circumstances, including its association with the DIS and whether public funds were misappropriated in the acquisition of the lodge, which I believe is the crux of the matter.” Mohwasa assured Members of Parliament (MPs) that if there is available evidence associating the acquisition of Tautona Lodge with the DIS, his ministry naturally seeks to understand the rationale behind the reasons. He said that will be particularly whether such reasons necessarily bear-out the fulfilment of the Intelligence and Security Service mandate as established by the ISS Act (2007). “As a government we take seriously the need for that kind of accountability when and where it is required, and an impression should never be created that where all the facts are established, my ministry wouldn't hesitate to identify impropriety and ensure accountability,” he added.
Mohwasa also pointed out that he understands the angst of MPs regarding government’s accountability on the DIS. He said it is proving a challenge that, whilst his ministry is in the middle of conducting a review of the organisation, which would otherwise provide comprehensive answers to the different specific questions arising from members, members themselves want certain specific answers on the spot. “I believe that when the DIS has fully briefed my ministry it will become easy to answer the questions of honourable members and address all their pressing concerns. As indicated, my ministry will then establish whether, where it concerns national security, the reasons provided would vindicate the DIS’ mandate and whether or not there is an operational or strategic basis in intelligence practices and processes to have acquired Tautona Lodge. “If there were other strategic reasons why government acquired Tautona Lodge other than for the DIS, those reasons will be put to this House as discovered and where any serious public policy misalignment is identified, this government will take all the necessary steps to align the usage of the facility to its relevant objectives,” he highlighted. Mohwasa has previously told Parliament that he has requested the DIS to address MPs at a General Assembly. He advised Parliament to make this possible so that they all may have the answers to all the questions they have about the institution.
According to government, Tautona Lodge was acquired by the latter following a Public Procurement and Assets Disposal Board (PPADB) approval of the direct acquisition of 100% of the shares. The PPADB approved this acquisition on May 7, 2021, and the Government of Botswana was registered as the sole shareholder of Tautona Lodge on May 18, 2021, as shown by records at the Companies and Intellectual Property Authority (CIPA). Available information, according to Mohwasa, further shows that the land in which Tautona Lodge sits is a farm that was purchased by government at a total sum of P58.2 million, inclusive of value added tax, as a final settlement amount for procurement. The information was provided by the former minister of (then) State Presidency, Kabo Morwaeng. Meanwhile, Morwaeng clarified to the media in a press briefing recently that he didn't purchase Tautona Lodge as it has been alleged.
