BDP Caucus To Discuss Mokgethi’s Fate

The Botswana Democratic Party’s (BDP) Parliamentary caucus is expected to make an official statement this week concerning the Minister of Nationality, Immigration and Gender Affairs, Annah Mokgethi’s recent court matter.

Mokgethi has failed to properly account for the late Abdul Joseph’s multimillion pula estate in a case in which the deceased’s alleged beneficiaries want to know of the powers she exercised as executrix in the matter of the inheritance and provide proper records.

The BDP Parliamentary caucus will sit on Tuesday where the issue is expected to be discussed. The Monitor has learnt that not all Members of Parliament (MPs) agree with the decision to have Mokgethi suspended from the party in relation to the said court case.

“Some MPs are clear [with their positions] that Mokgethi must be suspended the same way as the party did with Nata/ Gweta MP Polson Majaga, since the issue of the minister was decided by the court,” one concerned MP said.

“The party should not be seen to be taking sides when it comes to disciplinary issues. We hope that on Tuesday party leaders will brief us as MPs on how best they believe this issue should be handled. The minister’s issue is tarnishing the party’s name and how will people trust us? The highest court [Court of Appeal] has made a judgment on the matter. Caucus will make recommendations to the party leadership because this is a corruption issue,”the source added.

BDP chief whip, Liakat Kablay said he could not discuss internal party matters.

“Our caucus has not discussed this issue. Maybe it will be discussed this week,” Kablay said.

For his part, BDP spokesperson, Kagelelo Kentse also said the issue was internal and therefore he “cannot comment on it”. Early this month, the Court of Appeal dismissed Mokgethi’s application to reverse a High Court decision compelling her to give proper accounting records of Joseph’s estate.

The said estate is a subject of an intense court battle between Mokgethi and Joseph’s granddaughter. According to court records, Joseph died on July 7, 2010, and Mokgethi was soon thereafter issued with a letter of administration. Of his wife and two daughters, only one daughter, Shereen Pandor survives him. Pandor has four children. Joseph’s deceased daughter, Yolanda, left behind three children, Dawn Masenya and her two siblings.

Joseph had executed a will about two years before his demise. This was drawn up by Mokgethi, who was his attorney, and who was also named therein as the executrix of his will.

“In terms of the will, Pandor and her children inherited the whole of his considerable estate. Masenya and her siblings got nothing. Masenya was aggrieved when a final liquidation and distribution account was filed on May 4, 2013, she objected and, as advised by the Master of the High Court, she instituted proceedings to set aside the will on the grounds that Joseph was non-compos mentis (of unsound mind or lacking mental ability to understand the nature, consequences, and effect of a situation or transaction) at the time of its execution, and that it might have been forged,” the court papers read.