07 Jul 2022

The Directorate of Intelligence and Security (DIS) has noted circulating social media posts falsely alleging that certain prominent persons, namely Mr Botsalo Ntuane and Dr Phenyo Butale as well as some journalists are its paid sources.

Yesterday’s media statement from DIS says the allegations are not only false in how they are purported, but are also unjustly calculated to scandalise the named individuals.

Furthermore, the intelligence agency says it is clear that the allegations are part of a now well-established practice in which the Directorate is routinely placed in controversy to cause unnecessary public discontent.

 The release says Mr Ntuane, Dr Butale and the named journalists have never been paid sources of the Directorate.

“This notwithstanding, the Directorate finds it highly regrettable that a narrative is being entrenched that it is necessarily wrong, scandalous or unscrupulous for citizens to interact with it or its services.”

The DIS says the fact is that it was established through an Act of Parliament and this makes it a legitimate public body which plays a lawfully established strategic function.

To that end, it is not only highly malicious, but misleading and unpatriotic to build the narrative that citizens who deal with the Directorate are necessarily unscrupulous.

The release further says citizens of Botswana across the social divide are and will continue to be legitimate stakeholders of the Directorate. ENDS