Masisi’s close associate under DCEC radar
A close ally of former President Mokgweetsi Masisi, Kenneth Matswiri is under the Directorate of Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC) surveillance in connection with the over P296 million tender for the supply of smart meter solution under Water Utilities Corporation (WUC), Botswana Guardian has learnt.
The probe is in connection with a tender won by his company Hitlong Holdings where he is a Director. The WUC Smart Prepaid Water Metering Solution (SPWMS) is meant to improve water management, enhance customer experience, and ensure water security, requiring customers to recharge their accounts to access water services. The other tender is for Transport services at Botswana
Meat Commission (BMC) through another company, Value Chain Group.
Hitong Holdings (Pty) Ltd T/A Leeroy Systems has been among the three successful bidders of the tender getting LOT 1 - LOT 1 - Gaborone City. LOT 2 - Mogoditshane, Mmopane, Metsimotlhabe, Gabane, Kumakwane, Mmokolodi and Tloaneng. All Green Holdings (Pty) ltd was awarded a tender worth over P146 million while LOT 3 - Tlokweng, Ramotswa, Ramotswa station/Taung, Mogobane, and Otse was awarded to Heinsite Construction (Pty) Ltd at over P118 million.
Hitong Holdings was once dragged before the High Court where Melco Structure and Civil Engineering is taking Hitong Holdings and WUC on grounds that they entered into a Distribution Agreement between them in which it was given the exclusive mandate to advertise, market, and solicit clients and to sell Smart Water Metres manufactured by Hitong Holdings.
Following the agreement and all the work it did for Hitong Holdings, including introducing the Smart Meters to WUC, the latter won a tender of P296 932 615 (Excluding VAT) from WUC.
Melco Structure argued that despite all this, Hitong Holdings has not paid them for their work. Now it seeks orders for the withholding of sums of money due to the latter from the WUC, and further restricting/interdicting the company from disposing of proceeds it is to receive from the services it has provided for third parties as a result of the Melco Structure's efforts.
The controversial tender according to insiders, has also resulted in two Directors from WUC being persons of interest to DCEC on allegations of having colluded with Matswiri to benefit from the tender.
Information reaching this publication is that Matswiri, one of the country’s cattle baron once worked as a farm manager for former President Masisi. Questions have emerged as to how close Matswiri was with former President Masisi’s siblings in the controversial WUC tender.
According to sources within the corruption agency, the DCEC is also interested in another tender awarded to Matswiri by Botswana Meat Commission (BMC). Matswiri through his company Value Chain Group was awarded a tender by BMC providing transportation services for frozen meat products, coal and packaging materials.
Contacted for comment, Matswiri referred questions to his lawyer Peter Rasetshwane, who stated that Matswiri is currently away on international travel engagements outside Botswana. “Mr Matswiri is not aware that his companies (and it is noted that you do not say which) is / are under investigation on any matter by DCEC. Provide further details,” Rasetshwane said when responding to the
questionnaire.
He explained that his client has not been approached or questioned by DCEC officials. He dismissed claims that he has any relationship with former President Masisi.
“Matswiri has no relationship and/ or specifically ‘close relationship with former President Mokgweetsi Masisi’. All work for which Mr Matswiri’s companies have been engaged was procured lawfully and following due process,” Rasetshwane said.
On allegations of having bribed some Directors of the WUC overseeing the prepaid water metering solution, Rasetshwane said “Bribery is a very serious allegation sir! Who is alleging bribery and who was bribed? Where do you get that?”
Nlayidzi Force Gambule Head of Public Relations at DCEC said as per the DCEC Act they are constrained to discuss the agencies operations with a third party.