26 Mar 2019

Directorate of Intelligence and Security Services (DISS) has implored the nation to forgive them for every wrong that they have committed knowingly or unknowingly.

Addressing Southern District Council’s full session on March 25, the director general of DISS, Brigadier Peter Magosi said it was paramount to reorganise themselves to curb public perceptions and negativity, as well as draw a roadmap on how best to achieve their mandate.

He said it was therefore imperative for the DISS to work with journalists as they needed each other to execute their mandate of protecting the nation, stressing that transparency was key in building public confidence.

Brigadier Magosi declared the DISS’ intention to partner with members of the fourth estate to rebuild a positive image of the organisation.  

He said the DISS would lean on good-mannerism, respect and forgiveness in its transformation to an organisation that would be viewed beneficial to the public and they would partner with the media to portray them in a positive way.

He said not engaging the media makes the public speculate about the DISS, which has potential to tarnish its image. 

He said they wanted the media to use checks and balances to gauge the organisation’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats, so that if they were to derail from their mandate, the media would be in a position to know.

He also said they wanted to strike a balance between the right of the public to access information and information that is deemed confidential, citing that material that can bring instability to the nation cannot be divulged, imploring members of the fourth estate not to view such a move as denial.

Brigadier Magosi said he took full responsibility for all that might tarnish the image of the DISS, and acknowledged that security agents are servants of the nation, not their masters.

He spoke of the need for security organs such as Botswana Police Service, DISS, Botswana Unified Revenue Services (BURS) and Botswana Prisons Service, among others, to break barriers to effectively discharge their mandates.

He said crime was sophisticated and therefore needed concerted efforts, hence the need for security organs to join hands in fighting the monster. 

He said stock theft was detrimental to those who survive through livestock, hence the need for his organisation to look at the crime on a broader spectrum.

Brigadier Magosi shared that corruption was sophisticated and therefore needed longer investigation time, which some may think defies the ends of justice, adding that all security organs had  roles to play in fighting illicit drugs and human trafficking.

He warned that some people may come into Botswana as investors and eventually finance terrorism through money laundering, hence the country may find itself supporting terrorism through harbouring terrorists.

The director general said he believed in positive criticism as it was healthy for the organisation to move forward or execute its mandate diligently. 

He said DISS was not a political organisation and as such could not be involved in politics, except when there are issues of national security.

He said DISS mainly focused on issues detrimental to the economy, citing corruption as a major one, as government funds go down the drain or are diverted for personal gain rather than public use.

He said there was need for public education and awareness as people may partake in crime unknowingly and implored the public to inform them of any crime scheduled to take place or when they see it happening.

Brigadier Magosi said they would continue extending their offices country wide to effectively discharge their mandate and conduct security assessments on intervals to gauge the preparedness and readiness of security. ends