06 Mar 2017

 The Minister for Presidential Affairs, Governance and Public Administration, Mr Eric Molale has told Parliament that government never engaged a public relations company to handle PR campaign for the chairmanship of African Union Commission (AUC).
Responding on behalf of the Minister of International Affairs and Cooperation, Mr Molale said as for the total expenditure incurred for the campaign, government did not allocate a budget for the campaign for the Botswana candidate for the position of chairperson of AUC.
“Instead, the government took advantage of the already budgeted and prescheduled regional and international meetings to advance the campaign,” said he said.
Mr Molale said Lt Gen. Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama had appointed former president, Mr Festus Mogae to champion the campaign for Botswana’s candidate for the position of chairperson of AUC. He said Mr Mogae as the Special Envoy, used the budget already allocated to his office to advance the campaign.
MP for Gabane-Mmankgodi, Major General Pius Mokgware had asked the minister if a PR company was engaged to handle the PR for the AUC chairmanship campaign, and if so, how much was awarded to the company.He also asked how the company was appointed and the total expenditure including travel as well as accommodation for both the first and second round of campaigns. ENDS