BURS TAX STAMP IN LIMBO?

DCEC investigates BURS officials for corruption and tender irregularities-allegations.

LETLHOGILE MPUANG

High-ranking staffers of the Botswana Unified Revenue Service (BURS) are allegedly the target of ongoing investigations by the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crimes (DCEC) and the Directorate of Intelligence and Security Service (DISS) into the controversial P750 million track and trace system which may eventually stall the implementation of the project.

Information reaching this publication suggests that the two law enforcement agencies have opened a full-on probe into the 10-year contract signed between BURS and US-based company Authentix late last year for implementation of a tax stamp on all alcohol and tobacco products entering the country.

 

Task force
Sources say a combined task force of close to 10 investigating officers is pursuing allegations of tender irregularities.

The Gazette is informed that these investigations began in early December 2022. “The investigations are gaining the right traction and are moving at a very good pace,” said one investigating officer.

“Some high ranking officers, including a few who are currently suspended, will soon be called in for questioning regarding the tender and other issues.”
DCEC has previously confirmed that it is dealing with a number of allegations of corruption at BURS.

 

Charting a course for the probe
It is said that DCEC and DISS are scheduled to meet with officials of the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development for a briefing on the investigations and charting a course for the probe.

DISS and DCEC have been influential in the recent investigations and suspensions of several senior BURS officials.

 

Meanwhile, BURS says it is unaware of any probe into the tax stamp project and that the organisation is confidently moving ahead with its implementation.