The Botswana Agricultural and Marketing Board (BAMB) may be faced with financial challenges as it owes farmers an outstanding balance of about P17 million.
Insiders from BAMB say that failure to pay farmers is as a result of the new acting CEO increasing salaries of employees without proper due diligence.
When responding to the alleged outstanding payment, BAMB Spokesperson Simisane Chilisa admitted the outstanding payment.
“We have purchased harvest worth P121 million of which P103 million has been paid to farmers and P17 million being outstanding. However, this balance is within our agreed 14-day payment period to farmers,’’ Simisane said Chilisa.
A source within BAMB said the acting CEO was misled by the old faction of the Board which was against Leonard Morakaladi’s leadership style.
They said Board members are taking advantage of the newly appointed CEO as some of them were very instrumental in recommending him to the acting position.
Sources further said since the departure of Morakaladi as CEO, the new management has spent a good part of their time trying to find fault with the former CEO.
“So fixated to find fault and tarnish his name is that they took their eyes off the business. Now BAMB is faced with serious challenges as compared to the past two years under Morakaladi’s leadership. BAMB can’t pay suppliers to procure and replenish stock at their shops,” said inside sources.
Sources further said the new CEO increased their salaries handsomely without any consideration for the failing business.
Sources said Morakaladi was exonerated by Directorate of Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC) from any wrong doing. They further said he was the one who introduced cameras in all branches and even engaged DCEC and Police officials on all crime related activities.
sources also say the shortage could have been easily noticed and properly planned for but the management were busy on endless audits in order to satisfy their false alarms on the former CEO.
BAMB spokesperson Simisani Chilisa admitted owing farmers but said they have met with farmers to iron out pending administrative issues. “We have met with farming associations to discuss other pertinent matters and very soon the matter will rest,” he said.
He further admitted that four employees were reinstated after establishing that they were wrongfully dismissed by the former CEO, based on legal counsel given.
BAMB also dismissed reports that the acting CEO is influencing tenders on transportation and logistics to favour his family and friends.
“The Acting CEO authorizes engagement of private transporters in the event that internal transportation is not available. This is to curb excessive transportation costs. However, the actual appointment still lies with the responsible department,” said Chilisa.
