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.
