- MP Abraham Kesupile recuses himself to avoid conflict
- Kesupile is related to Isaac Kgosi and Botho Leburu
- Dithapelo and Guma report DIS threats to Police Commissioner
SONNY SERITE
Kanye South MP Abram Kesupile has recused himself from the ongoing enquiry into the National Petroleum Fund (NPF) by the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC).
Kesupile is the chairman of the PAC but has decided not to continue presiding over the NPF enquiry as he is allegedly related to some of the possible witnesses who are likely to be summoned to the hearings. In his absence, Selebi-Phikwe West MP Dithapelo Keorapetse has ascended to the chairmanship of the PAC which on Monday resumed its probe into the alleged embezzlement of the NPF funds. Keorapetse stated that contrary to media reports that Kesupile is resigning from PAC, he only recused himself on the NPF issue.
While he did not reveal the names of possible witnesses related to Kesupile, this publication has established that the Kanye legislator is related to DIS Director General Isaac Kgosi’s wife and is also related to Botho Leburu who has been implicated in the NPF financial scandal. Kgosi is highly likely to be summoned before the PAC to explain his organization’s involvement in the disbursement of the P250 million from the National Petroleum Fund while Leburu might be called to explain the involvement of Khuleco PTY Ltd where, she together with Bakang Seretse, are directors.
DIS WANTS TO KILL KEORAPETSE AND GUMA?
Meanwhile some members of the Public Accounts Committee have reported to the police commissioner and speaker of the national assembly what they view as threats to their lives by the Directorate on Intelligence Services (DIS). In his affidavit to the Botswana Police, MP Keorapetse states that, ‘‘The PAC is currently seized with what is possibly considered as the worst financial scandal ever to hit our country namely the National Petroleum Fund. On the 5th April 2018 in the late afternoon I received a phone call from Honourable Guma Samson Moyo relating to our work in the Public Accounts Committee concerning and relating to the National Petroleum Funds. In the cause of our conversation aforesaid Honourable Samson Guma Moyo informed me that he had received a tip off from an anonymous member of the Directorate of Intelligence Services (DIS) that there was a plan within the DIS to either harm me or kill myself and him following what was perceived as our hostile and intense attitude in the questioning and interrogation of the National Petroleum Fund.’’
Keorapetse further told the police that Moyo pointed out to him that the DIS source had informed him that they were targeted particularly because of their unrelenting interest and extensive questioning which seemed to expose maladministration in how the NPF was dealt with. In the end, Keorapetse requested police protection by asking ‘‘I therefore submit this statement as a report to the police for further investigation and request that I be accorded the necessary protection whilst the matter is being investigated.’’ He said he was hamstrung to exercise his duties as an elected Member of Parliament in the form of the PAC to ‘‘exercise my duties without fear or favour given the threats that have been made towards my person.’’
In an interview with this publication on Monday during PAC recess, Keorapetse confirmed that he, together with Moyo and Clerk of the National Assembly met Speaker Gladys Kokorwe in the morning where the issue was discussed and Kokorwe promised to take the matter up with the Police Commissioner to see how best it can be dealt with.
For his part, Moyo said the issue should not have reached the media so as to allow internal processes to take care of it. DIS Director General Isaac Kgosi was reluctant to make comment but on further probing said, ‘‘Obviously I’m disappointed at such unfounded allegations but as the DIS we will respond through proper government channels of communication.’’