DCEC asked to investigate youth council

Embattled Botswana National Youth Council (BNYC) board chairperson, Elius Rantleru, has reported the organisation and some board members to the Directorate of Corruption and Economic Crime alleging corruption and embezzlement of funds.
Rantleru lamented that the BNYC assets are not recorded nor registered. He charged that the organisation’s farm in Mankgodi Village used to have livestock, such as cattle, goats, pigs and chickens, which have all disappeared into thin air, adding that his board was not shown the Organisation’s report which the Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs refuses to disclose to the BNYC board.
Falcon Sedimo, the organisation’s former director, has also been given an ultimatum barring him from signing BNYC cheques as, it is alleged, he made a withdrawal of P200 000 for himself without the board’s knowledge.
The BNYC battles erupted last year when the board and the secretariat clashed over the transfer of employees following Sedimo’s departure to join the Ministry as Director of Sports and Recreation.
Last year, the ministry of labour and Home Affairs refused to recognize the board’s suspension of the acting Executive Director, Tina Molatlhegi, stating that the BNYC’s chairperson had no authority to suspend the acting executive. The ministry further said the organisation’s statues and all other documents, which purport to govern the affairs of the BNYC, were invalid and had no authority.
Rantleru also claims that his former right hand man and the organisation’s suspended Secretary General, Chomi Letlole, narrated how he received visits from BDP executive secretary, Comma Serema, and Abraham Keetshabe, all pleading with her to revoke the suspension against Tinah Molathegi in exchange for a P50 000 youth grant, a land board seat and a council ward in 2009.
Asked about the investigations, DCEC deputy director, Adolf Hirschfeld said before quickly hanging up, “I cannot confirm or deny but am rather constrained by the law to discuss any of our investigations.”