- BDP politicians and senior civil service implicated
- WUC top brass also fingered
LETLHOGILE MPUANG
The corruption case involving two senior engineers at Water Utilities Corporation (WUC) is anticipated to reveal connections to prominent members of the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) and high-ranking government officials.
Timothy Mudongo and Rebaone Letsatle appeared before the Extension 2 Magistrates Court on Tuesday last week to answer five charges related to corruption by a public officer and abuse of office.
The two have also been named in allegations of receiving perks such as rented houses in Gaborone and luxurious holidays in Kasane, courtesy of Beijing Enterprise Water Group. The construction company is behind the Glen Valley Water and Waste Treatment Plant project which spiralled from P180m to P300m in costs.
The P180 million initially budgeted for the project raised eyebrows when it allegedly soared to over P300 million. The two engineers were responsible for overseeing the tender. They are expected to return to court in mid-September.
As ramifications widen, it is believed investigations of the two engineers conducted by DCEC are likely to spread to some members of the BDP, the executive management at WUC, senior officials at the Ministry of Land, Water and Sanitation Services, and individuals at the Office of the President.
Complex
“The investigation is complex,” a source told The Botswana Gazette. “The matter involves influential figures, and there are concerns about potential compromises.”
Meanwhile, in a related incident, the vehicles belonging to senior WUC officers that were seized by DCEC in June because they were believed to be proceeds of crime have been returned to the officers after the Directorate of Intelligence and Security Service (DISS) intervened.