The Directorate of Intelligence Services (DIS)and the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC) are investigating possible cartel and corrupt practices between board members of the Botswana Agricultural Marketing Board (BAMB) and some of its suppliers.
This follows reports that former BAMB chief executive officer, Leonard Morakaladi was pushed out because he tried to fight the cartel.
A source closer to BAMB informed the Sunday Standard that Morakaladi has appeared before DIS officers to answer questions relating to corruption allegations implicating some board members.
Morakaladi’s ouster came after he invited law enforcement officers amongst them DIS and DCEC to conduct investigations at BAMB.
Morakaladi has had a number of run ins with the BAMB board chairperson Ruth Mphathi and BAMB Board secretary Onkemetse Thomas.
It has further emerged that the BAMB board terminated Morakaladi’s contract against a decision by the board which included a current minister and former minister.
Sunday Standard has in possession BAMB minutes dated 28 February 2019 which shows that the Minister of Health Dr Edwin Dikoloti was part of the Board which extended and varied Morakaladi’s contract. The minutes which were taken by BAMB board secretary Onkemetse Thomas show that former cabinet Minister Dr Somolokae (then Chairperson of Board was also part of the team that extended Morakaladi’s contract from 3 years to five years.
Unconfirmed reports from a source close to the BAMB board claim that board members who are part of the corrupt cartel kept the board recommendation away from the Minister of Agriculture Christiaan de Graaff.
The board members were allegedly unhappy that Morakaladi tried to break the cartel.
Sunday standard is in possession of some names of big companies which allegedly benefitted from the corruption between 2016 and 2018.
The nine companies were allegedly given BAMB contracts because they colluded with some board members.
Sundays Standard is in possession of Botswana Agricultural Marketing Board feed payments between 2016-2018 financial year, which reveal that P132 million (P132, 866,586) was spent on the nine companies over the three-year period.
Sunday Standard canreveal that one of the companies which has attracted the attention of law enforcement officers (name known to this publication) was paid P43 million for the year 2017 alone.
On the 1st March 2018, BAMB roped in Morakaladi on a three-year contract to turn around BAMB. During the period, most of the nine companies failed to get BAMB tenders, setting him on collision course with the cartel.
Sunday standard is in possession of board minutes which revealing that Dr Somolokae, Dr Dikoloti, Mphathi and Onkemetse Thomas were present during Morakaladi’s contract extension.
An insider close to BAMB said Morakaladi was pushed out because he was believed to be breaking the party.
In a letter dated 24 February 2021, the acting Board Chairperson Ruth Mphathi wrote to Morakaladi that his contract was ending 28th February 2021 despite the contract having being extended by two years.
This publication can reveal that, the Minister of Health Dr Dikoloti (former BAMB board member), Dr Gloria Somolokae (former BAMB Chairperson), now acting Chairperson Ruth Mphathi and Ogone Madisa Kgwarae were present during a meeting where discussion in relation to CEO contract was discussed.
It is not clear how some minutes dated 28th February 2019 show that a discussion in relation to CEO contract from three years to five years was discussed and approved.
Responding to allegations levelled against Mphathi and Thomas, BAMB spokesperson Simisang Chilisa said the board had followed procedure in terminating Morakaladi’s contract.
He further stated that they were not aware of any DCEC investigations against BAMB staff or Board member.
Chilisa further said Morakaladi’s contract was purportedly extended for a further period of 2 years.
“The said extension was neither presented to the Board nor to the Minister for approval in terms of BAMB Act as there was never a discussion nor resolution on the subject matter.”
DCEC Spokesperson Lentswe Motshoganetsi confirmed that DCEC is investigating BAMB corruption allegations. In an interview with Sunday Standard, the DCEC spokesperson said they were conducting “some investigations regarding the institution you have alluded to. However, we cannot divulge names and details of ongoing investigations as that is contrary to corruption and Economic Act.