11 Mar 2019

Minister for Presidential Affairs, Governance and Public Administration Mr Nonofo Molefhi has refuted allegations that he said there was no need to move oversight institutions from Office of the President (OP).

In an interview, Minister Molefhi said contrary to the March 1 The Voice newspaper report, he said “since OP is responsible for governance and administration, it is currently befitting for these organisations to be under this office.”

He said Gaborone Central MP Dr Phenyo Butale had wanted to know why oversight institutions still remained under OP.

The minister said he had explained that Parliament needed to be capacitated and empowered for it to administer such institutions, ‘which will also call for Constitutional review.’

“I want to clarify that even though these oversight bodies are under OP, OP does not in any way meddle in their affairs or operations. They all have clear mandates and are driven by facts and the evidence they have when carrying out their investigations,” he stressed. 

Minister Molefhi also said there were legal processes to be taken into consideration before moving such institutions.  

The institutions, he said, remained independednt with OP assisting on financial and administrative matters. 

They include Ombudsman, Independent Electoral Commission, Auditor General, Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime and Directorate of Intelligence and Security Services. ENDS