01 Feb 2017

The allegation by Reuben Pitse that the Directorate of Intelligence and Security (DIS) has been infiltrated by a Chinese crime syndicate and assists a Chinese investor running an underground work and residence permit operation [Chinese Mafia in Botswana politics, Sunday Standard, January 29 to February 4, 2017, page 1] is false and grossly misleading.

The Directorate treats the above mentioned criminal activities, which fall in the category of organized crime, as serious threats to our national security and interests.
Combating organized crime and related activities is a top priority of the Directorate.

The Directorate will, in view of this, take decisive action against any wrongdoing or illegal conduct of any of its agents.

It should be further pointed out that any wrong doing on the part of the Directorate would be picked and highlighted by the institutions responsible for providing oversight, which include, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Parliamentary Committee on Statutory Bodies and State Enterprises, Parliamentary Committee on Intelligence and Security, the Tribunal and the Intelligence and Security Council.

These are empowered by law to scrutinize all DIS dealings and have authorized access to classified information. The DIS, as a matter of fact, handles its operations professionally in an impartial and undaunted manner within the provisions of the Intelligence and Security Act 2007.

The allegations made by Mr Pitse are, therefore, nothing but baseless falsehoods and a demonstration of his warped idea of the Directorate of Intelligence and Security.

The public should dismiss this malicious portrayal of the DIS as it is nothing but a perpetuation of falsehoods, myths and stereotypes about the Directorate by certain quarters in society who are bent on inciting the public against the DIS and its employees. BGCIS