18 Dec 2014

The Ministry of Defence, Justice and Security would like to respond to an opinion/analysis authored by one Sonny O. Serite titled Dear Shaw Kgathi, maaka ga se bokwete published on The Telegraph newspaper of Wednesday, 17 December 2014.

First and foremost it is uncultural for a younger person like Sonny Serite to say to an elder, by age and in society, that he is a ‘liar’ regardless of the opinion, point of view or perception one  may hold. Ga se setho!

Secondly, the matter under discussion is not at all newsworthy because the response by the Minister of Defence, Justice and Security Honourable Shaw Kgathi to Question Number 149 of 10^th December 2014 posed by Honourable Pius Mokgware MP for Gabane-Mmankgodi, and the former Commander of the Ground Forces Command of the BDF is not unusual as it seems there is consisted interest in the BDF matters in some quarters.

The question asked was for the  Minister of Defence, Justice and Security to state the number of tenders that were awarded to Seleka Springs from 1980 to 1998 at the Botswana Defence Force and the Botswana Police Service, and the value of all the tenders.

For record, the question was answered factually and as a matter of fact, on the basis of the records available in the BDF, and by extension in the Ministry of Defence, Justice and Security.

As the Minister stated in his subsequent Point of Order which he raised in Parliament on the 11^th December 2014 in response to a supplementary question, that was posed by Honourable Wynter Mmolotsi MP for Francistown South, on the same matter and the unfortunate assertions made in the newspapers like The Guardian, The Patriot on Sunday, Sunday Standard, Mmegi and social media. There is no evidence indicating that Seleka Springs had any transactional contracts with the BDF during the period under discussion.

Fundamentally in his  response,  Minister Kgathi  further stated that any person(s) including those who might have any inside information or records by virtue of their past or current privilege of  accessing  relevant records  should assist the Ministry  with such, so that there could be factual reconciliation between the  response  to Question Number 3 of 15^th December 2010 asked by Honourable Wynter Mmolotsi  and the response to Question Number 149 of 10^th December 2014  that was posed by Honourable Pius  Mokgware .This challenge still remains. For emphasis let it be known that the Honourable Minister Kgathi has not misled Parliament or the nation in any way.

It is clear that the author of the opinion piece under reference is on a mission to tarnish the name of the Honourable Minister and seek to blemish his character by labelling him a ‘liar’. The positions that Minister Kgathi has held in Government clearly represent  his unquestionable integrity anchored on the values of truthfulness and faithfulness to the citizens of this country, whom he has served diligently throughout his political career, and even when he was a civil servant. 

This Ministry takes this opportunity to remind Batswana that one of our key national principles is Botho and its value should never be compromised or ‘cheapened’ in pursuit of bolstering individual egos.

As Public Relations practitioners of the Ministry of Defence, Justice and Security we view with disdain the meanness of the author and his culturally unacceptable language. The language he used should also be viewed as blasphemous to our Lord Jesus Christ. Fortunately the views on this matter we hold are appositely   shared by many on social media.

It is also our view, that the author seems to be somebody who is trying to cause false alarm and despondency by spreading maliciousness and one sided picture about the Honourable Minister on a matter that was clarified in Parliament in accordance with the relevant Standing Orders of Parliament. 

On the basis of the foregoing, the Ministry of Defence, Justice and Security therefore demands that The Telegraph newspaper unconditional retracts the unprofessional and misleading opinion/analysis piece in question by Sonny Serite and that it should be given the same prominence as you did to his piece.

The Ministry of Defence, Justice and Security wishes Batswana Merry Christmas and Prosperous 2015. We care much about your safety and security. Do take all necessary safety precautions over the festive season.  Please enjoy responsibly and do not drink and drive!

We note with appreciation that the list of number of persons published for drunken driving is gradually reducing.

Samma G. Tabudi

………………………………

FOR/Permanent Secretary