31 Aug 2021

Minister for Presidential Affairs, Governance and Public Administration, Mr Kabo Morwaeng has said he is aware of one professional who serves as ACHAP board member and is also a Research Associate at Botswana Harvard Partnership (BHP).

Minister Morwaeng explained to Parliament that the said professional was not a BHP board member and thus not involved in  board decisions.

As such, the minister said there was no proof of violation of the principles of good governance, in relation to decisions on what services should be provided by ACHAP and the Botswana Health Professionals Council.

The told Parliament that ACHAP, registered under Companies and Intellectual Property Act, had a long-standing partnership with the Ministry of Health and Wellness.

He said the most recent engagement between ACHAP and the health and wellness ministry was contact tracing when the first COVID-19 cases emerged in Botswana in April last year and later in the border control programme.

“As for the Botswana Harvard Partnership, it is in the public domain that its mission is to fight HIV/AIDS and emerging public health challenges. To this end, the BHP entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with MoH in 1996, to collaborate on research and training and this arrangement is still continuing,” Mr Morwaeng said.

Palapye MP, Mr Onneetse Ramogapi, had asked the minister to state the role of one professional who was serving as board member for ACHAP, Botswana Health Professionals Council (BHPC) and a fellow in Botswana Harvard Partnership.

Mr Ramogapi also wanted to know if such was in line with the principles of good governance for them to be deciding on what services should be provided by ACHAP and BHPC in which they were members. ENDS