BCP washes hands off ‘Motigage’
With reports from South African media indicating that Umbrella for Democratic Change’s (UDC) 2019 General Election financier and South African businessman Zunaid Moti had aimed to capture Botswana, UDC’s alienated member, Botswana Congress Party has washed its hands off the matter.
Reports show that Moti allegedly wanted to extract hugely favourable concessions from the State, grafting onto Botswana the sort of grand plans he had seemingly tried to set in motion in Zimbabwe years before. Moti is the owner of the Moti Group, a conglomerate with a diverse international portfolio including mining, property development and aviation.
Asked how far they were when these deals were being ‘brokered’, BCP’s Dr Kesitegile Gobotswang told a media briefing yesterday that the UDC National Executive Committee (NEC) realised then that president Duma Boko was using other member parties to mobilise money from Moti. “We asked where he asked for funds and how much he got. We asked if the money was going to come through the treasurer or not. He explained so many times that we should stay away from the issues because the financiers are his friends and they could only send money to him. Boko told us he would see how fit to use the money,” he explained.
Gobotswang revealed that after receiving the funding from Moti, Boko used the money for UDC candidates launches. The former vice of the BCP added that as the BCP they really thought Moti as Boko’s ‘friend’ was clean. He said now reports show that there was a huge problem. He said the money from Moti was not for the UDC but went to Boko’s pockets. BCP’s secretary for economic affairs, Sennye Obuseng also told the media that they are worried by these reports. “We have been complaining about governance issues within the government, so the Moti files have verified that even at the UDC we have huge governance issues. These files show how dangerous this poses on our country and we don’t want state capture,” he pointed out. He added that they are shocked that the UDC has allies like Moti.
Asked to comment on Gobotswang’s allegations,
UDC spokesperson Moeti Mohwasa said, “I really wish I knew what Gobotswang is talking about. But what I am certain of is that he is punching above his party’s weight. So I won’t be able to say much on the issue”.
Mohwasa added that Boko was not aware of any desire on Gobotswang who was an NEC member at the time’s part to see Moti. “Dumelang Saleshando met Moti. Probably he could have asked to accompany Saleshando.” With comments that other members had the right to know what they were getting themselves into with Moti, Mohwasa indicated that there was nothing that we were getting into except to get help. “This is honestly laughable and just not true. Gobotswang should be thankful for the help. Just out of not being childish, we would not comment on these malicious statements,” he said.
Asked when Boko will address UDC members about these allegations, Mohwasa said there is nothing new to say about UDC interaction with Moti to warrant a national address by Boko. According to South Africa’s Daily Maverick, Moti was going to rely on the Botswana opposition as a Trojan horse, by backing Boko’s UDC. Amongst the documents are ones purporting to show that a Moti’s company based in the Seychelles – called Longway Solutions – had entered into an agreement with Boko to fund his election campaign ‘and has to date committed an amount of $9 400 000. 00’.
In return according to Daily Maverick, Longway expected “certain commercial opportunities with the co-operation and assistance of the government of Botswana” in the event of Boko’s victory.
It was also reported that the eye-watering details of the expected opportunities included that the Moti group would be appointed to provide mandatory travel insurance to visitors of Botswana; be made chief negotiator to engage with De Beers diamond mining company, which plays a central role in Botswana’s economy; that the Moti Group would manage border control and security for the country, and undertake business activities in the beef, fuel, lithium and fertiliser sectors.