27 May 2018

Newly appointed Directorate of Intelligence and Security Services (DISS) director general, Brigadier Peter Magosi looks like a man on a mission.

Within a month of his appointment, he has already started the ball rolling. On Friday (May 25) Brig. Magosi arrived at a conference facility at the headquarters of the country’s secret agency in Gaborone calm and collected, flanked by his lieutenants to face a battalion of journalists for a meet and greet session.

After much anxiety and bad perceptions about the operations of DISS by the public, Brig. Magosi is willing to provide a different perspective to Batswana about the mission of the country’s secret agency in order to restore its confidence.

In his maiden address to the media, Brig. Magosi emphasised the need for the organisation to nurture cordial and mutual working relationship with the media.

“We wish to start our journey going forward on a clean slate. We want to start with our partners, the media houses, and then we will go to other stakeholders,” he said.

Brig. Magosi underscored the importance of co-existence of the media and the intelligence services for them to remain relevant.

He said after assuming his new role as the highest in command of the intelligence unit, he found it necessary to liaise with media houses because both were responsible for keeping the nation abreast with new developments in the country.

“I decided to begin a new journey with the media to build bridges between the agency and try to understand each other. We also view you as our checks and balances to ensure that we, as the intelligence service, do things the right way as expected,” he said

Brig. Magosi also said the DISS would advertise a post for a communications officer for easy flow of information.

He further said he could not refute that there had been negative perceptions about the existence of the DISS, and said he could not dissociate himself or the DISS with what was perceived of it previously.

“As a leader, I must take responsibility. I am not going to dissociate myself with the previous principals of the DISS, what is important is to carry the work forward,” he said.

Brig. Magosi said DISS understood the crucial role that the media played, but noted that some elements of intelligence would still be conducted in secrecy, as it was the nature of the profession that dictated so.

“You need us as your partners because we play the same role. We are different entities, but working to achieve the same goal,” he said.

Brig. Magosi further noted that in future, Batswana would see a different DISS, and would be able to tell a different story about the organisation.

He said he was addressing DISS officers to give them his roadmap, adding that he was willing to see one big family that was full of respect, discipline and forgiveness.

Brig. Magosi also said he wanted to see a changed status quo where Batswana would embrace the intelligence unit like other government entities.

“We have a system in place that ensures a mutual relationship between us and other government departments and we cannot work in silos,” he said.

Asked why the DISS was never audited since its establishment, the DISS chief said the intelligence unit was not different from other government departments, and thus expected to be treated as such.

“As far as DISS is concerned, we are part of the government system,” he said.

One of the directors, Mr Lesego Tsholofelo said despite the confines of their operations which required secrecy in some investigations, there was need for openness and transparency.

“Intelligence unit by its nature thrives in secrecy,” he said.

Mr Tsholofelo said the DISS should be able to protect its line of officers and informants as well as maintain confidentiality in their dealings at all times. ENDS