Unconfirmed Intelligence briefs allegedly compiled by the Directorate of Intelligence and Security Services (DISS) states that Gomolemo Motswaledi was top on the government leadership’s hate list, and went on to suggest that the former Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD) President was assassinated.
The report which is being circulated by a group called Asparagus which claimed to have hacked the DISS database published a “top secret report” compiled by a DISS agent who had spied on a conversation in which former Vice President, late Mompati Merafhe confided to a close friend that, he was “not surprised at what happened to Motswaledi” because the government leadership hated him.
The conversation indicates that Merafhe’s relationship with President Khama was strained almost to breaking point.
The report further captures an alleged intelligence brief to President Lt Gen Ian Khama that the DISS had recruited one of Motswaledi’s aides who “due to the sensitivity of his portfolio” was handled by the spy agency’s high command.
Motswaledi’s death became a lightning rod of controversy even inside the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) camp which was divided over the choice of pathologist assigned to conduct a post mortem on his corpse.
While one group led by lawyer Dick Bayford and BMD MP for Mogoditshane Sedirwa Kgoroba fought against engaging Durban-based pathologist Reggie Perumal because of his close ties with advocate Sidney Pilane who is DISS Chief, Isaac Kgosi’s legal adviser, another group led by BMD Chairman Nehemiah Modubule that insisted on Perumal prevailed. During his stay in Botswana, not only did Perumal lodge at Pilane’s house at Phakalane, but the pathologist’s fees were also paid for by Pilane. Perumal was engaged by Pilane in his murder defence case for Thabo Stimela, former President Khama’s batman and Kgosi’s long time friend.
The alleged briefs also reveal a DISS spy mission code named “Project Thola
Borethe” in which the spy agency planned to infiltrate foreign missions in
Botswana.
The project brief states, ‘Aim: Identify, Monitor and Recruit Contacts
Objectives:
- Infiltrate key foreign missions in Botswana of certain foreign mission
- Monitor and maintain surveillance on their political and economic activities
- Build long-term and reliable ‘contacts’ within key missions.
- Counter-intelligence
Targets:
- Embassy of United Sates, Gaborone,
- Embassy of People’s Republic of China, Gaborone,
- United Kingdom High Commission, Gaborone
- SADC Secretariat/ Office of Executive Secretary
- United Nations Agencies, Gaborone
- European Union Representatives, Gaborone
US Embassy Gaborone
1. High-priority collection mission.
2. Target local staff
3. Particular attention must be given to the following offices;
- Political/Economic Section
- Office of Security Cooperation
- Regional Security Office
Embassy of People’s Republic of China, Gaborone,
- High-priority collection mission.
- Particular attention must be given to the following offices;
- Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary (Mr. Zheng Zhuqiang)
- Political Office
- Consular Office
- Economic Office
United Kingdom High Commission, Gaborone
- High-priority collection mission.
- Target local staff
- Particular attention must be given to the following offices;
- Political/Economic Section
SADC Secretariat/ Office of Executive Secretary
Medium-priority collection mission
Target ES’s PA and other secretaries
United Nations Agencies, Gaborone
- Low-priority collection mission
- Target senior local staff
European Union Representatives, Gaborone
- Low-priority collection mission
- Target (lists an EU officer by name)’
The Sunday Standard was not able to confirm the authenticity of the briefs but was able to confirm that the names and ID of the intelligence agents listed on the briefs are authentic.
