DCEC raids Limkokwing over Dow again

TSAONE SEGAETSHO

Corruption busting agency Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC) has once again raided offices of private tertiary institution Limkokwing University to probe allegations of corruption or conflict of interest between Education Minister Unity Dow and the university.
According to sources, the DCEC visited the university again last week in what is possibly a follow up of the initial investigation they carried out last year after an expose by The Botswana Gazette which revealed that Dow’s law firm, Dow and Associates, was pocketing a monthly    P25 000 from Limkokwing in a four-year contract.
“The issue between Dow and Limkokwing has caused many tensions and confusion in the university. Even the university owners at Malaysia are concerned…they are panicking. Many have been fired because of these investigations,” a source revealed.
This publication understands that one employee was fired following DCEC investigations in what is said to be a purge by the university’s bosses in Malaysia after it was whispered to them that the employee was “close to one of the investigators”.
It is also believed that former Limkokwing University Spokesperson, Mercy Thebe, who is now a PR consultant at the university was also initially blamed for leaking confidential information to the media.
Thebe in a response to this publication confirmed that the DCEC met with university management last week, saying the visit was “pre-arranged”. She however declined to be drawn into revealing further details about what the graft busting organ was doing at the school.