April 14 2010: The court has been told that former Debswana Managing Director Louis Nchindo used a bogus company to apply for land for his tourism development project.
Giving evidence, Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Lands and Housing, Gaolebe Lekula, on Monday told Southern Regional Magistrate, Lot Moroka, that Nchindo’s company, Tourism Development Consortium (TDC), was not properly registered, and that he would not have recommended for the company to be allocated land if he had known such.
Lekula said that land cannot be allocated to a nonexistent company, adding that he would not have made a recommendation that TDC be allocated land if he had known that he was furnished with false information.
He further revealed that land rights granted on the basis of false information can be cancelled.
Nchindo was further allocated land to build a filling station in block 8. However he queried the allocation as he had applied for land in block 6. He later opted for another plot along the Gaborone-Mogoditshane road.
The then minister of lands instructed the Department of Lands to consider his request.
Another state witness, former Director of Lands and current Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs, Victor Rantshabeng, explained that Debswana never applied for land, adding that it was TDC under the directorship of Nchindo that applied for land.
He also said that he was not aware of any undue influence from former President Festus Mogae, Minister Boometswe Mokgothu or cabinet, adding that it was not necessary for Nchindo to attach a certificate of registration when applying for land.
