23 Feb 2020

The Directorate of Intelligence and Security Services (DISS) has no role in government tender adjudication process, Minister for Presidential Affairs, Governance and Public Administration, Mr Kabo Morwaeng has said.

Answering a question from Member of Parliament for Maun West, Mr Dumelang Saleshando on Friday, Mr Morwaeng said however, from time to time, the directorate received requests from procuring entities seeking security vetting and clearance of certain persons or entities, who in most cases they would have shortlisted in consideration for award.

He further indicated that, ‘at other times, information is received by DISS in which suspicions are raised that certain identified conduct is not above board.’

Minister Morwaeng said this was common where a dispute would have arisen out of adjudication, and in that case the DISS would commence investigations and where wrongdoing of national security concern was identified, relevant authorities were notified for appropriate action.

Furthermore, Parliament was informed that the DISS was established through an Act of Parliament, Intelligence and Security Service Act (2008).

The act, Mr Morwaeng said, outlined functions of the DISS as among others to investigate, gather, coordinate, evaluate, correlate, interpret, disseminate and store information, whether inside or outside Botswana.

In addition, he said, the functions were being performed for purposes of detecting and identifying any threat or potential threat to national security, advising the President and government of any threat to national security.

Mr Morweng further noted that was done for purposes of taking steps to protect the security interests of Botswana whether political, economic or military.

MP Saleshando had asked the minister to state the role of the DISS in government tender adjudication process. Ends