11 Mar 2019

The Directorate of Intelligence and Security Services (DIS) has expressed concern about a recent  statement by former president Lt Gen Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama during a South African Broadcasting Corporation interview. 

According to a DIS press release, Dr Khama told the broadcaster that Botswana intelligence officers were following Botswana Democratic Party presidential candidate Dr Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi ‘everywhere she goes’ as part of punishment for challenging for the party’s presidency.

DIS says the statement is not only misleading but is designed to cultivate unnecessary fear among Batswana and the international community.

When outlining his roadmap following his appointment, DIS director general Brigadier Peter Magosi said in several interviews that under his leadership; DIS would remain a professional outfit that would not meddle in political party affairs in accordance with the DIS Act. 

It points out that he explained that the only instance DIS would intervene in political affairs was where such activities were subversive and threatened national security. 

The director general, it says,  has previously said Dr Venson-Moitoi had not been identified as subversive nor a threat to national security and thus there was no reason for her to be pursued. 

That is still the position and the same was recently conveyed to Dr Venson Moitoi by the director general, says the release.

It notes that DIS has suffered serious image problems since its establishment with many members of the public, legislators and civic leaders consistently expressing concern that the organisation was unaccountable and conducting its affairs outside the mandate for which it was established. 

The release says the concerns are the reason Brigadier Magosi agreed to an organisation audit and to answer to Parliament among many efforts to be transparent and accountable.

Since the establishment of the public relations office and consequent media interactions; members of the public have enjoyed freedom to critique and suggest ways in which the directorate can improve its service delivery, it says.

“It is highly regrettable that following many years of fear and mistrust of the DIS, former President Khama is propagating misinformation just as the directorate is turning a page under its new leadership. 

The DIS in its current strategy endeavours to return the department to total accountability and transparency because it was established to serve a legitimate and much needed national security function." ENDS