28 Mar 2021

Parliament on Friday voted 33 to 12 to reject a motion from Serowe South MP, Mr Leepetswe Lesedi calling on government to establish a commission of enquiry on COVID-19 procurement and tendering with specific emphasis on all tenders awarded during State of Emergency. Presenting his motion, MP Lesedi said he was concerned because tenders awarded during SoE were direct tenders.

He said Batswana therefore were suspicious that there was no prudent financial management, which he argued that could be uncovered by the commission.

However, The Minister for Presidential Affairs, Governance and Public Administration, Mr Kabo Morwaeng urged Parliament to reject the motion, saying the arguments were based on hearsay.

He said there were government agencies such as the Auditor General that had investigated and would continue to investigate such tenders.

Mr Morwaeng said everyone was free to report at the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC) if they witnessed incidents of corruption.

The minister said the commission would divert attention from the fight against the pandemic.

MP for Lobatse and Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Dr Thapelo Matsheka was also against the motion, saying the AG was able to undertake investigations without interference, adding that the report would be presented before Parliament.

He said the AG during investigations would show how the country was prepared for COVID-19 and how government could prepare for future pandemics.

MP Matsheka said the investigations on COVID-19 Relief Fund would be presented in Parliament during the winter session.

He said the investigations covered procurement and where there were any corrupt practices, they would be exposed.

Dr Matsheka, however, said all procurement regulations were followed and they were never suspended during the State of Emergency.

For his part, Dr Kesitegile Gobotswang of Sefhare/Ramokgonami supported the motion, arguing that investigations should not be suspended because of COVID-19.

He said the commission of enquiry was better than AG investigations as the latter only relied on transactions while the former would be more comprehensive.

Dr Gobotswang said it was important for the commission to be set urgently to allow people to make presentations while they still remembered and while all documents were available.

He said despite the P12.5 billion spent on fighting the scourge, the country continued to face inadequate challenges.

Goodhope/Mabule MP, Mr Eric Molale said the motion was premature and therefore redundant, hence he could not support it.

He said government had other agencies such as the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chaired by the opposition, making it transparent.

Dr Edwin Dikoloti, Minister of Health and Wellness was also against the motion, saying all procurement procedures were followed.

He said his ministry had  been transparent as he had kept Parliament abreast on how the COVID-19 Relief Funds were used.

Dr Dikoloti said they conducted two audits and reports had been produced, adding that government believed in transparency and was against corruption.
Palapye MP, Mr Onneetse Ramogapi said the AG was not independent and could not therefore investigate the Office of the President.

Further, he said the AG had no powers to investigate individuals and it could not also investigate malpractices.

MP Ramogapi said the AG was limited, but argued that the commissions would be broad because there would be public gathering where everyone was invited to provide any information they knew.

He said previously there had  been commissions of enquiry to investigate cases of corruption in Mogoditshane and Botswana Housing Corporation (BHC), yet the AG was still active.

Mr Ramogapi challenged Parliament to agree with the motion, saying it provided them with an opportunity to clear their names.

Shashe West MP, Mr Fidelis Molao was against the motion saying it would divert attention and resources from fighting the pandemic.

In his response, MP Lesedi said by rejecting the motion, MPs were showing they had something to hide and dismissed arguments by the ruling party MPs that the AG was independent. ENDS