06 Oct 2016

The newly established Botswana Trading Commission is already surrounded by controversy as it operates without a board of governors and the chief executive officer is accused of employing staff without following procedure. 

Appearing before the Parliamentary Committee on Statutory Bodies and State Enterprises, Botswana Trading Commission chief executive officer, Mr Mphoentle Tamasega had a tough time answering questions regarding the allegations of corruption, maladministration and abuse of office leveled against him.

Reading the letter copied to the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC) and the Office of the Ombudsman, chairman of the Committee on Statutory Bodies and State Enterprises, Mr Samson Guma said the CEO appointed senior executive staff members of the Botswana Trade Commission without involvement and approval of the Board.

The board was inaugurated in January 2015 and the Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry appointed the CEO who commenced work in February 2016.

However, the board was dissolved in March 2016, with the CEO only a month into his job.

Mr Guma, who is Tati East MP, said when staff members were appointed, no advertisements were floated for the positions.

The letter stated that interviews were not conducted because the board members who would ordinarily conduct them were not involved.

It was also stated that at the time of the appointments, no job descriptions had been developed for any position within the Botswana Trade Commission.
Furthermore, the board had not determined any other remuneration packages except for the CEO.

For his part, Mr Tamasega said he did not know why the board was dissolved, adding that matters, which would require the board were taken to the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry.

He said he had a staff compliment of five personnel and occupied a rental space of 767 square metres at a monthly rental of P79 000.

The CEO said the board was responsible for sourcing the accommodation at Masa Centre, adding further the three year contract did not have a termination clause.

He said under the structure of the board, they anticipated employing more staff, up to 38 people, hence justification of the space.

Asked further by members of the committee, Mr Tamasega said without the board, he had to find his way around, adding the board had given him permission to head hunt his officers.

He said of the five people he employed, two were within his mandate, while the three had to be approved by the board.

Mr Guma said it seemed interviews were not conducted as the CEO was the referee and the player as well, adding he should have engaged an independent consultant to deal with the recruitment process.

Mr Tamasega however said in the absence of the board, he had to take the risk. Ends