03 Dec 2020

Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, Mr Dumelang Saleshando has requested some Members of Parliament to refrain from spreading falsehoods in the absence of any evidence against his wife, Ms Dineo Saleshando.

Mr Saleshando, who is also MP for Maun West, made a personal statement in Parliament on December 2, saying the allegations of fraud levelled against his wife were baseless. 

He said he found it necessary to put the issue to rest through a statement on the same platform that it was made. 

He said the Minister of Employment, Labour Productivity and Skills Development, Mr Mpho Balopi, whose portfolio responsibility includes adjudication of labour disputes, had alleged that he was in receipt of claims that Ms Saleshando had defrauded some citizens by failing to pay them funds that were claimed from the wage subsidy on their behalf.

Mr Saleshando also noted that during one of the meetings of the National Assembly held at Boipuso Hall, Vice President Mr Slumber Tsogwane, who is also the chairperson of the BDP, alleged that some in the opposition were inappropriately benefiting from the wage subsidy. He said when called upon to substantiate the allegation, the VP withdrew them. “Yesterday, Member of Parliament for Gaborone North, who is also the secretary-general of the BDP, stood on a point of procedure whilst Mr Kekgonegile was holding the floor. 

The point of procedure was procedurally used by Mr Balopi to make damning claims against my wife,” he said. 

Mr Saleshando said given the false statement that was made and later withdrawn by the Vice President and the statement that was made by Mr Balopi there was a clear narrative being developed.

“I want to state for the record that Dineo Saleshando has never been directly involved with any claims from the COVID-19 Wage Subsidy Fund nor the disbursement of such funds to the intended beneficiaries. We all know that if the claims were true, the BDP top leadership would not have resorted to peddling rumours as is the case currently,” he said.

He said the concerned people had the authority and obligation to expose any of her acts that amounted to an abuse of public funds by reporting her to the police for further investigations and prosecution. 

Minister Balopi acceded to having met Mr Saleshando and said they discussed the matter. He said he did not accuse Ms Saleshando of any wrong doing, but only wanted to know if evidence sent through an SMS was accepted as valid in Parliament. 

“I wish to conclude by stating for the record that I have privately discussed with Mr Balopi the statement he made about Dineo Saleshando. He apologised for the statement and I accepted the apology. I hope Mr Balopi will be honest enough to tender a public apology to my wife and I without being cajoled,” he said.

For his part, Mr Tsogwane said the allegations levelled against him were factually wrong and false.

He said due to the limited time given to him to ask Mr Saleshando a question, he would not ask but check records and come to set the record straight. ends