As the Botswana Meat Commission (BMC) Parliamentary Select Committee continues with its assignment to probe the events at the government-owned Botswana Meat Commission  and state of the beef industry in general, everything possible must be made to facilitate that the corporation’s former chief executive officer Dr David Falepau is helped to come and give evidence before the committee.
We are inclined to make this appeal on the back of media reports that Dr Falepau was muzzled from discussing BMC-related issues with the Joseph Legwaila task team that recently handed its report to the Minister of Agriculture.
It has been reported that in terms of his unceremonious sacking, Dr Falepau was made to sign an agreement not to discuss BMC-related issues after the termination of his employment.  Because of the agreement, the task team was unable to interview Dr Falepau on the activities that took place during his tenure as the corporation’s chief executive.
In his letter to the task team, Dr Falepau expressed his willingness to be interviewed but indicated that he was unable to do so on account of the agreement by which his services were terminated by the minister binding him not to divulge or discuss any matters whatsoever related to BMC to any third party unless required by law.
We are of the firm view that had it not been for the agreement and other conditions attached thereto, Dr Falepau would have gladly shared valuable information with the task team. It is indisputable that as a true professional, he feels duty and morally bound not to breach the agreement. He had to play by the rules. 
Under the circumstances, we implore the select committee to use the National Assembly Powers and Privileges Act to summon and/or subpoena Dr Falepau to come and testif. The same should be extended to any other person who may be bound by similar agreements.
The importance of BMC to ordinary Batswana farmers and the national economy needs no emphasis. It is imperative that no stone is left unturned in the investigation.
It is our firm belief that Dr Falepau’s information on the goings-on at the corporation is of great public interest, which will come handy in determining the rot or any other deficiencies that engulf the BMC and the beef industry in general.
It is also public knowledge that Dr Falepau was on course to turning the corporation around at the time of his unceremonious departure.
It is further commendable that in line with the provisions of Public Service Charter, the parliament select committee found it fitting to make the hearings public as that fosters transparency.
The fourth provision of the Public Service Charter states unequivocally that the principle of transparency dictates that members of the public service are entitled to have access to non-confidential information on the operation and activities of the public service.
Transparency further demands that where possible, full information on matters of public interest should be made available by public officers authorized to do so to the press and to the public at large.
We point to this provision because, in the past, the  hearings of  parliamentary select committee on the Botswana Development Corporation’s Palapye Fengyue Glass project were held in camera. The only consolation to come from it has been that the report was itself released to the public.
The BMC committee was definitely not set up to malign anybody. Rather it is an attempt to unearth the problems at the corporation and point to the wrongs that need to be attended to.
If there is any prosecution that will arise out of the committee’s findings, that certainly would be the duty of the Directorate of Public Prosecutions.
In the same vein, we urge the public to freely appear before the committee and tell them whatever they know so that at the end of the day we get a clear picture of the mess besieging this important industry.
It is the moral duty of all Batswana to ensure that the BMC is saved.
Without public cooperation, the committee, despite its noble objectives, is destined to fail. It is, therefore, important that as responsible citizens, we all rise to the challenge and help the Mephato Reatile chaired committee to come up with solutions to ensure the future viability and sustainability of the BMC.
Public investment in the BMC venture is too huge to be left to go to waste hence the need for all of us to assist in whatever way we can to ensure that we get the best out of the investigation and save the beef industry from further plunder.
