President Duma Boko has retained a Canadian lobbying firm that supported his election campaign, according to a US Department of Justice filing, which shows that Dickens & Madson continues to work with him under previous retainer payments
GAZETTE REPORTER
President Duma Boko has retained the services of a Canadian lobbying firm that worked to support his election campaign, according to information recently submitted to the United States Department of Justice under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA).
The filing indicates that Dickens & Madson (D&M) “continues to work with Mr. Duma Boko in support of his presidency” after previously undertaking activities “in Botswana, South Africa and the United Kingdom in support of his election as President of Botswana.”
NO DIRECT US-FOCUSED ACTIVITY REPORTED
According to the disclosure, all of the firm’s activities on behalf of Boko have taken place outside the United States, with the filing stressing that “none of those activities have been directed at the United States.”
It further states that D&M “has not prepared, disseminated or caused the dissemination of informational materials in the United States in connection with this foreign principal.”
FUNDING THROUGH PRIOR RETAINER
The submission also outlines that during the reporting period, the firm did not receive new payments from Boko. Instead, it states that D&M “did not receive any contributions, income, or money, either as compensation or otherwise, from Mr. Boko.”
Rather, the firm reportedly “applied retainer payments previously provided by Mr. Boko and previously disclosed to the Department of Justice.”
It adds that no additional expenditures were made during the period, stating that the firm “did not disburse or expend monies in connection with activity on behalf of Mr. Duma Boko in this reporting period,” with all work conducted remotely from Canada.
EARLIER LOBBYING AGREEMENT REVEALED
The latest disclosure follows earlier filings in 2024 that revealed Boko had entered into a lobbying agreement with Dickens & Madson to support what was described as his international engagement strategy.
The agreement, signed on 10 July 2024 between Boko and D&M president Ari Ben-Menashe, was reportedly valued at about P8 million over 12 months. Reports at the time indicated that the firm had already received an initial US$50,000 retainer.
PRE-ELECTION ENGAGEMENT
Documents submitted to the US Department of Justice on 8 August 2024 showed that the arrangement was disclosed in compliance with FARA requirements, just days before the UDC launched its 2024 general election manifesto in Gaborone.
Under the contract, the firm was tasked with conducting lobbying activities targeting contacts within the governments of the United States and the United Kingdom, aimed at supporting Boko’s bid for the presidency.
At the time, Boko was quoted as saying: “I am reaching out to international organisations and governments, seeking to secure the integrity of the (2024) elections and stop the fraudulent IEC from pulling off the fraud of 2019.”
RELATIONSHIP CONTINUES AFTER ELECTION
The newly submitted filing now indicates that the relationship between Boko and Dickens & Madson has continued beyond the election period, with the firm stating that it “continues to work with Mr. Duma Boko in support of his presidency.”