18 Feb 2015

Minister of Defence, Justice and Security, Mr Shaw Kgathi says Seleka Springs was not a supplier to the Botswana Defence Force (BDF) between 1980 and 1998. Instead, he said, records indicate that the company acted as agents of some suppliers to the BDF. 

Making a statement in Parliament on february 16, he said: “Suppliers are entities that the military enters into contractual transactions with either as suppliers or franchisees. The Botswana Defence Force by practice does not enter into contractual transactions with agents, salespersons or promoters. This is so because the contractual risk and liability obligations are held between the actual supplier and the procurer.” He stressed that Seleka Springs in this context has not been a supplier to the BDF. 

The statement was made after some MPs had alleged that the minister had misinformed Parliament when answering a parliamentary question in December last year. Gabane-Mmankgodi MP, Mr Pius Mokgware had asked the minister to state the number of tenders that were awarded to Seleka Springs by the BDF and the Botswana Police between 1980 and 1998, and the value of such tenders. 

The minister responded at the time by saying that there was no tender awarded to Seleka Springs during that period. But the MP of Francistown South, Mr Wynter Mmolotsi asked the minister to reconcile his response to the response by former acting- minister Ms Lesego Motsumi to the same question in 2010. 

“I cannot vouch for the basis on which the former minister in her response of 15 December 2010 was made in relation to the question put to her then,” Mr Kgathi said. He said he was putting it on record that he has not lied to Parliament. ENDS