- Matter was reported by Board Chair of BPOPF
- Sources say there may be attempts to kill the case
TEFO PHEAGE
The Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crimes (DCEC) still has a corruption dossier on former Accountant General and now Acting Permanent Secretary to the President, Emma Peloetletse, that was reported by then Chairman of the Board of the Botswana Public Officers Pensions Fund (BPOPF), Solomon Mantswe, in 2019.
According to Mantswe’s letter dated 23 August 2019, Peloetletse, who was one of the fund managers, was the beneficiary of a luxurious jazz festival trip to Cape Town sponsored by Capital Management Botswana (CMB) in March/April 2017. The letter added that Peloetletse was informed of the allegations and requested to respond to it through a letter dated 17 May 2019.
Mantswe’s letter went on to state that the Board of BPOPF considered the matter at its sitting of 22 August 2019 and resolved to refer it to the DCEC for investigations.
Engaged about the matter this week, the Director General of DCEC, Tymon Katlholo, would not shed light on the status of the case save to say: “The matter may be among several others which I still have to look into. As you may be aware, I found several matters here and I am still looking into those.”
The spokesman of the Ministry of Presidential Affairs, Andrew Sesinyi, was not available to say whether it was known that DCEC had a corruption dossier on Peloetletse before she was appointed to her acting position at the highest office in the land.
Sources have expressed concern that there may be attempts to kill the case that has recently become a cause of perturbations in the corridors of power. “It appears Katlholo is not sympathetic to calls to close the case,” said one inside source.
Concerns are that the jolly jaunt to Cape Town could have contributed in the growth of the CMB portfolio. In response to these allegations, Peloetletse has confirmed the trip and invitation by CMB, saying it was nothing extraordinary as board members always received things.
She denied that this jaunt could have contributed in the growth of the CMB portfolio. “The decision was made in accordance with the Fund’s rules and the minutes of the meeting where the decision was made are available,” she said.
Peloetletse said at the time of the invitation to go on the trip, she informed the Chief Executive Officer of BPOPF who approved it.