FRANCISTOWN: Following recent reports of allegations of abuse of office, public funds and resources by President Ian Khama, the Botswana Congress Party (BCP) has challenged, through a written letter of complaint, the office of the Ombudsman to investigate the matter and take necessary steps.
The BCP said what prompted them to write the letter is that while the nation has been increasingly getting unsettled with allegations of abuse of office and public resources, the Office of the Ombudsman has never shown interest in carrying out investigations. The party leadership is of the view that should the allegations be left unattended, it might cause instability in the country.
Among others issues which form part of the BCP complainant letter is the ownership of the Mosu airstrip, the alleged building of houses for Kgosi Tawana Moremi’s son, Thapelo Olopeng, Tshekedi and Jacqueline Khama, by the Botswana Defence Force (BDF) in the compound.
The BCP argued in the letter that though the government mouthpiece has denied some of the allegations made regarding the Mosu allegations, they did not state where the resources used to construct the compound came from. “The issue remains at large and we require government to account,” they said in the letter.
Furthermore, the BCP wants the Ombudsman to investigate recent reports that President Khama was flying BDF aircrafts at a fun fare in Matsieng and at a Motor show held in Rasesa. “It is clear that a huge BDF aircraft was used to entertain spectators at the air show because it was widely reported on DSTV supersport channels on various dates. If indeed the President participated in the air show using the BDF plane, then we need clarity on this issue because this is public resource,” the letter reads further.
“With regard to the allegations, the BCP calls the office of the Ombudsman to immediately embark on the investigations of the matters and make findings public. Please do let us know within 14 days whether you intend to do so,” the letter stressed.