The 13th Parliament has adopted a motion to investigate the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) bid which allegedly set back government by P65 million.
Under the previous government, Botswana in collaboration with Namibia, had intended to host AFCON 2027. However, Namibia pulled out of the bid late on the run which saw Botswana lose out to the joint proposal by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. The Botswana bid sparked controversies when it was alleged that the bid book produced by South African Engineer, Reuben Reddy, cost over P60 million. The then minister of Youth, Gender, Sports and Culture, Tumiso Rakgare, had always argued that the figures were blown out of proportion. He revealed then that the book cost only P41 million.
The controversy has now been revived as it reached current Parliament sitting. Member of Parliament for Molepolole North, Arafat Khan, brought a motion before Parliament for it to investigated and establish the manner in which the bid was handled. "...that Parliament resolves to set up a special select committee of Parliament to investigate the P65 million bid for AFCON 2027 to determine the efficacy of the bid. Determine if the amount of the bid book compares with international trends, examine procurement process in choosing the winning bidder and audit any other process in and leading to the award of the tender," the aforementioned motion before Parliament read.
Following the lengthy debates on whether Parliament should investigate the bid, a resolution was reached today with all opposition and ruling MPs agreeing that the bid be investigated. Minister of Water and Human Settlements, Onneetse Ramogapi, argued that it is imperative for the House to investigate from all fronts and not just bank on the forensic audit which is expected to commence in two weeks time. The minister argued that a forensic audit is all about tracing the money but their wish to unpack how the whole thing was handled by the previous government. Ramogapi was seconded by almost all MPs in attendance who also want to ascertain if everything was duly done.
The controversy has now been revived as it reached current Parliament sitting. Member of Parliament for Molepolole North, Arafat Khan, brought a motion before Parliament for it to investigated and establish the manner in which the bid was handled. "...that Parliament resolves to set up a special select committee of Parliament to investigate the P65 million bid for AFCON 2027 to determine the efficacy of the bid. Determine if the amount of the bid book compares with international trends, examine procurement process in choosing the winning bidder and audit any other process in and leading to the award of the tender," the aforementioned motion before Parliament read.
Following the lengthy debates on whether Parliament should investigate the bid, a resolution was reached today with all opposition and ruling MPs agreeing that the bid be investigated. Minister of Water and Human Settlements, Onneetse Ramogapi, argued that it is imperative for the House to investigate from all fronts and not just bank on the forensic audit which is expected to commence in two weeks time. The minister argued that a forensic audit is all about tracing the money but their wish to unpack how the whole thing was handled by the previous government. Ramogapi was seconded by almost all MPs in attendance who also want to ascertain if everything was duly done.
