Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Land Management, Water and Sanitation Services (MLMWSS), Bonolo Khumotaka resigned with immediate effect last week following government enclave’s intense behind the scenes infightings over the impending award of the billion Pula North South Water Carrier Project 2.2 tender.
Khumotaka two weeks ago sent an SMS to President Mokgweetsi Masisi stating that she was aware of plans to move her out of the Ministry of Land Management, Water and Sanitation Services because of the impending multi-billion Pula tender award.
The former Permanent Secretary tendered her resignation Wednesday morning immediately after receiving a letter from the Permanent Secretary to the President (PSP) Emma Peloetletse transferring her to the Government Implementation Coordination Office (GICO).
Khumotaka has been locked in a fight with the Directorate of Intelligence and Security Services (DIS) over the eligibility of Khato Civils to tender for the North South Water Carrier Project 2.2.
Khato Civils (Pty) Ltd/ KNBC (Pty)Ltd JV was in pole position to win the tender having quoted P 1 897 452 895.51 which made them the lowest bidder among the six companies which have been shortlisted for the project. The second lowest was Unik Construction Engineering (Pty) Ltd/ Built Co. (Pty) Ltd JV at P2 024 460 282. 20
Sunday Standard investigations have turned up information that DIS
insisted that Khato Civils Botswana should be disqualified from tendering claiming that the company owed Botswana Unified Revenue Services (BURS) about P100 million.
A Tax Clearance Certificate has been a requirement for any company bidding for tenders offered by PPADB, government departments/ministries and local government tender boards as from 1st July 2005. This requirement came as a result of a Cabinet Directive No. 32/2003 which stipulates that: “ …..Tax Clearance Certificates will be a necessary requirement for award of government tenders……….”
The tax dispute between Khato Civils Botswana and BURS arises from the their 2020 award for the design and construction of 100 km transmission water pipeline from Masama Well fields to Mmamashia Water Treatment Plant in Gaborone, to convey 64Ml/day of borehole water abstracted from both Masama East and West Wellfields.
In an apparent bid to circumvent the tender requirement for a tax clearance certificate, Khato Civils decided to bid for the current project through Khato Civils South Africa which does not have tax issues with BURS, instead of Khato Civils Botswana. It is believed that Khato Civils South Africa managed to secure a tax exemption certificate.
The DIS however felt that Khato Civils had been allowed to sneak in through the backdoor and insisted that it should be disqualified while Khumotaka was adamant that Khato Civils South Africa was eligible to tender for the project. With Khumotaka out of the way, indications are that Khato Civils will be disqualified from the tender. Khumotaka, however suggests corruption behind the whole process but would not disclose details. The Argus online quotes the former Permanent Secretary saying she resigned because she did not want to be part of any corruption.
“I really cannot divulge more information about my resignation but just know that I am a principled person with integrity and I will go down that way rather than being drawn into corrupt issues,” Khumotaka was quoted saying.
Other contractors in the shortlist for the lucrative tender are China Railway Seven Group which tendered at P2028 495 259. 70, Okavango JV which tendered at P2054 041 352. 83; China Jiagxixi International/ Trust Construction Engineering which tendered at P2 283 306 963.98 and China Jiangsu International Botswana/Letsatsi (Pty) Ltd.
