30 Jan 2022

Legislators on Friday passed the Counter Terrorism (Amendment) Bill.

Welcoming the bill on Friday, Francistown East MP Mr Buti Billy said it would give the Botswana Defence Force (BDF) and Directorate of Intelligence and Security Services (DISS) powers to gather intelligence.

He said the amendment would allow for unfettered investigation of some corporate organisations that may be involved in acts of terrorism.

MP Billy said the country should be protected from all terrorism acts as they dented economic growth and disrupted peace.

MP for Goodhope-Mabule, Mr Eric Molale also supported the bill, saying terrorists had become smart, swift and ruthless.

Citing a 2010 incident in which some sleeper cells passed through Botswana en route to South Africa, which was hosting the FIFA World Mr Molale, said it was imperative to amend the bill.

However, he said there must be checks and balances to ensure the law was not abused.

MP for Okavango, Mr Kenny Kapinga said he was concerned that the DISS appeared to have more powers than law enforcement agencies. Already, he said,  there were concerns that the agency was overreaching in a number of cases.

Mr Kapinga cautioned against forming new agencies at a time the economy was not doing well.

He argued it was better to improve the efficiencies of existing organisations than create new ones.

MP Kapinga said the Office of the President and not the DISS should coordinate the Counter Terrorism and Fusion Agency.

Kgalagadi North MP, Ms Talitha Monnakgotla said government should pay attention to cyber terrorism as well.

She said it was possible that terrorism funding had increased given the number of cash heists in the country.

For his part, MP Kgoberego Nkawana of Selebi Phikwe East said government should ensure that its policies did not give birth to home-grown terrorist groups.

He warned that disgruntled minority groups and other Batswana living in poverty might turn against the government if their needs were not met.

The leader of opposition and MP for Maun West, Mr Dumelang Saleshando also expressed concern that there were no guaranteed checks and balances in the amendment.

Responding to the comments after approval, the Minister for Presidential Affairs, Governance and Public Administration Mr Kabo Morwaeng said the government could never pass laws that denied Batswana their liberties.

He said it was important for the country to align local laws with international ones to avoid the country from being grey listed which affected the economy.

Under the Bill, the DISS and BDF would be tasked with gathering intelligence while the police would investigate acts of terrorism.

“It is worth noting that the mandate of the DISS is national security and national security has been defined to include terrorism,” the minister said. ENDS