BCPYL want De Beers, BDP relations probed

The newly elected Botswana Congress Party Youth League (BCPYL) says it has completed investigations into alleged corrupt relations between the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) and the De Beers Mining Company, according to The Botswana Gazette.
 
The Youth League’s president, Lotty Manyapetsa, told The Gazette that the Youth League only awaits the party’s central committee to give them the go-ahead to file the case with the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC).
 
“When the BCP’s central committee convenes sometime next month they will look among other things at our request to file a case against the corrupt relations between the ruling party and De Beers, which dates back to the era of Sir Ketumile Masire’s presidency,” Manyapetsa said.
 
He said they are confident that they have a strong case; a strong team of lawyers has compiled evidence on the dealings between De Beers and the BDP.
 
“It is a known fact that De Beers bailed out former President Masire when he was in debt; Masire even acknowledged this. What is now needed is for the DCEC to investigate how such transactions affected the business deals that this country has been making with De Beers, a business company that is profit driven,” Manyapetsa said.
 
The BCPYL believes that the reason why Botswana does not want to involve other companies to mine diamonds in Botswana is because of the extraordinary relationship that De Beers shares with the BDP.
 
Manyapetsa said other countries such as Namibia do not allow De Beers to monopolize the diamond mining sector; they believe Botswana should follow suit and allow healthy competition in the diamond market.
 
The Youth League president further called for the DCEC to be independent and to report to parliament, rather than the Minister of Defence and Security. As things are it is difficult for the DCEC to investigate its own boss, Manyapetsa said.
 
In a press statement released last week the BCPYL commended the DCEC for nailing some senior citizens involved in corruption. It however complained of its low conviction rate in high profile cases. The statement also urged the DCEC to investigate the alleged corrupt relationship between De Beers and the BDP without fear and favour.
 
Efforts to get hold of BDP executive secretary, Batlang Serema were futile by the time of going to press as his phone rang unanswered.
 
Meanwhile Manyapetsa also revealed that they have made a request for the party to have a firm position on gay rights in Botswana.
 
Following media reports last year that he was bailed out by De Beers, former President Masire wrote a rebuttal assuring the public that the modest support that was extended to his farming business by De Beers’ associates 25 years ago did not materially compromise government’s subsequent bilateral dealings with the company.