The BCPYL has painfully noted with deep regret┬áa series of allegations against Mr Christiaan De Graff, Minister of Agriculture ever since he became minister. The league is disheartened by the protection the minister has got from President Ian Khama notwithstanding a plethora of credible allegations and or prima facie evidence of wrongdoing on his part.?The allegations regarding Mr De Graff are many and varied, grotesque and serious in nature and therefore need urgency and seriousness never seen before.?Whilst Mr De Graaff is accused of literally destroying Botswana Meat Commission (BMC), by meddling unfairly in its operations, and favoring his friends in many deals that led to the quagmire in which BMC finds itself now, he is also alleged to be owning more farms┬á in Kgalagadi than anyone.┬á How and when Mr De Graaff acquired these remains a mystery.┬á If true, this is apparent and arrogant abuse of office; it amounts to corruption and economic crime as well as disrespect for the rule of law.?It is the latest lion allegation run by Mmegi Newspaper that warrants Mr De Graaff to resign, be investigated or fired summarily. The lion scandal is mysterious and doesn’t make sense why a wildlife officer would donate precious government animals to a private citizen. It also doesn’t make sense why a government minister would accept a donation of wild animals belonging to the nation from a public officer. Mr De Graaff’s argument that he was given the animals as a donation is not only parochial, but a conspicuous insult to the integrity of this nation. The response of the Wildlife department is preposterous. It is these contradictions between De Graaff and the Wildlife Department that have led to the BCPYL instituting action into this mayhem. Whatever the situation, it is corruption either way.┬á The public officer who donated the lions must also be identified and suspended pending investigation.?Mr De Graff has caused reasonable cause for panic because he is a minister who is also area Member of Parliament. The BCPYL believes there are corrupt activities Mr De Graaff is conducting and must therefore account to the nation as a minister and an MP.
The BCPYL will also seek to take the matter to the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC) and the Ombudsman. Botswana is a small economy which relies on the natural resources such as wildlife therefore this matter can’t be left as an allegation.?Botswana is a democratic republic run by institutions and the rule of law and must therefore deal with Mr De Graaff accordingly because wildlife is maintained and looked after by the tax payer who is a hard working Motswana who expects transparency and accountability and from a public officer such as Mr De Graaff.?The BCPYL will not rest until this matter is fully investigated by relevant authorities.
Dithapelo Keorapetse
President, BCPYL
