The Directorate on Intelligence Services (DIS) acquired phone tapping equipment worth over P13 million about eight months before last year's election, reinforcing public concerns that the spy agency was prepared to interfere in the election, leaked documents show.
An intelligence source said the procured machines could break an encryption even the hardest as WhatsApp and Telegram.
Telecommunications interception equipment, sophisticated spy technology which can be used to intercept, monitor and track emails, mobile phones, and online messaging services such as WhatsApp were acquired from top Israeli and the United Arab Emirates spy firms between November 2023 and February 2024.
Documents seen by Botswana Guardian show that an Israeli intelligence firm, PicSix delivered phone interception equipment in February last year worth USD988,392.74 (around P13 million) to the DIS.
PicsSix describes itself as a “heavy hitter” that manufactures and develops interception, counter-interception, and other tactical intelligence devices. PicSix also provides phone interception technologies such as IMSI-catchers, hardware that can be used to inject malware (such as Intellexa’s Predator) into a mobile device.
Both the DIS and Botswana Police use IMSI-catchers, which are often deployed to monitor mobile phone communications in crowds and identify potential 'ringleaders' during public demonstrations and political rallies, according to a Botswana Police source.
Botswana intelligence services have a dismal human rights track record of intercepting communication, detaining and harassing journalists and opposition politicians, this according to New York – based journalism watchdog, Committee to Protect Journalists. The spy agency was previously accused of kidnap and torture.
On the other hand, a Dubai intelligence company, Trovicor, delivered interception equipment recorded in trade documents only as “data processing machines” worth USD9,697.56 (equivalent of P134 000). The equipment arrived in Botswana on the 9th of November 2023.
Trovicor renamed DF Systems FZ-LLC in June 2024 – is a UAE-incorporated holding company and trading entity within the Trovicor Intelligence group of companies, which develops and markets targeted surveillance technologies. Public documents show that Trovicor is part of the Intellexa alliance (via its participation in the Nexa group), which created and sells the Predator spyware.
In February 2024, it was reported that Predator was operational in at least eleven countries, including Botswana. It is yet to be seen whether the DIS will reform to align with the new Umbrella for Democratic Change drive of promoting individuals’ liberties and defending human rights.
Intelligence sources revealed a high possibility of the ‘machines’ being bought to tap phones for politicians, journalists and vocal civil society leaders and consequently rig the elections.
“It means they were delivering technology machines for Data. It is a system that has to link. It has to break into walls especially of Internet Service Providers (ISP). It can break into encryptions,” a highly-placed source said.
ISPs are companies that offer internet access to homes and businesses. They can also provide services for managing, using, and participating in the internet.
Investigations by this publication have revealed that between the periods of the procurements, the DIS Technical Staff was outside the country but could not establish their purpose of travel and or assignment.
Inference by Botswana Guardian suggests that the procurement was made when there were uncertainties by the then ruling party on its chances to retain power and could have used these procurements to secure or retain state power.
According to insightful insiders there could have been many factors that disrupted the rigging or full utilisation of the machine such as the Madibelotlhopho brigade that was housed under the UDC Presidency which exposed many of the election running body- the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC)’s loopholes from voter registration, voters’ roll printing and inspection up-to election date.
Intelligence sources also believe that DIS head Peter Magosi fell out of favour with President Mokgweetsi Masisi five months before election and would therefore have been unlikely to be motivated to participate in surveillance that could identify potential areas for rigging.
The ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) entered the 2024 general election as a polarised political organisation, reflecting the divisions that emerged during preparations for its internal party elections ahead of the national polls. The party, its leadership, and their close ties to the DIS were determined to retain power. However, this strategy backfired, leading to the party’s first-ever one-term presidency under President Mokgweetsi Masisi.
Insiders have revealed that the systems procured from the two controversial companies may have been intended to ensure continuity in government, with the goal of securing a landslide victory for the BDP.
Security analysts argue that a key focus was the relationship between the current President, Adv. Duma Boko, and the former President, Ian Khama, who also served as Patron of the Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF), particularly regarding their financial connections.
“You see this comes to the utterances made by the then head of State Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi in Tlokweng during the BDP Manifesto launch when he spoke about intercepting of possible funds transaction to the opposition.
“And the posture displayed you could tell was of people with high technology who did not want any trace but were exposed. You need this kind of system to break such barriers.
“So it will make sense that the equipment arrived or were procured at that time. It is only that people did not read between the lines.
“That is how sophisticated the system is. It can even easily locate where you are without even using a cellphone,” another source revealed.
The source added that all that is needed is Information Management System (IMS) capture, which captures the serial number of your cellphone.
IMS is a database and transaction management system primarily associated with IBM, used to store, organise, and retrieve complex data structures, particularly on mainframe systems, utilising a hierarchical database model; essentially, it is a legacy system for managing large amounts of data with intricate relationships between different data points.
DIS Public Relations Director Edward Robert and the two implicated companies have not responded to the questionnaires sent to them at press time.
An intelligence source said the procured machines could break an encryption even the hardest as WhatsApp and Telegram.
Telecommunications interception equipment, sophisticated spy technology which can be used to intercept, monitor and track emails, mobile phones, and online messaging services such as WhatsApp were acquired from top Israeli and the United Arab Emirates spy firms between November 2023 and February 2024.
Documents seen by Botswana Guardian show that an Israeli intelligence firm, PicSix delivered phone interception equipment in February last year worth USD988,392.74 (around P13 million) to the DIS.
PicsSix describes itself as a “heavy hitter” that manufactures and develops interception, counter-interception, and other tactical intelligence devices. PicSix also provides phone interception technologies such as IMSI-catchers, hardware that can be used to inject malware (such as Intellexa’s Predator) into a mobile device.
Both the DIS and Botswana Police use IMSI-catchers, which are often deployed to monitor mobile phone communications in crowds and identify potential 'ringleaders' during public demonstrations and political rallies, according to a Botswana Police source.
Botswana intelligence services have a dismal human rights track record of intercepting communication, detaining and harassing journalists and opposition politicians, this according to New York – based journalism watchdog, Committee to Protect Journalists. The spy agency was previously accused of kidnap and torture.
On the other hand, a Dubai intelligence company, Trovicor, delivered interception equipment recorded in trade documents only as “data processing machines” worth USD9,697.56 (equivalent of P134 000). The equipment arrived in Botswana on the 9th of November 2023.
Trovicor renamed DF Systems FZ-LLC in June 2024 – is a UAE-incorporated holding company and trading entity within the Trovicor Intelligence group of companies, which develops and markets targeted surveillance technologies. Public documents show that Trovicor is part of the Intellexa alliance (via its participation in the Nexa group), which created and sells the Predator spyware.
In February 2024, it was reported that Predator was operational in at least eleven countries, including Botswana. It is yet to be seen whether the DIS will reform to align with the new Umbrella for Democratic Change drive of promoting individuals’ liberties and defending human rights.
Intelligence sources revealed a high possibility of the ‘machines’ being bought to tap phones for politicians, journalists and vocal civil society leaders and consequently rig the elections.
“It means they were delivering technology machines for Data. It is a system that has to link. It has to break into walls especially of Internet Service Providers (ISP). It can break into encryptions,” a highly-placed source said.
ISPs are companies that offer internet access to homes and businesses. They can also provide services for managing, using, and participating in the internet.
Investigations by this publication have revealed that between the periods of the procurements, the DIS Technical Staff was outside the country but could not establish their purpose of travel and or assignment.
Inference by Botswana Guardian suggests that the procurement was made when there were uncertainties by the then ruling party on its chances to retain power and could have used these procurements to secure or retain state power.
According to insightful insiders there could have been many factors that disrupted the rigging or full utilisation of the machine such as the Madibelotlhopho brigade that was housed under the UDC Presidency which exposed many of the election running body- the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC)’s loopholes from voter registration, voters’ roll printing and inspection up-to election date.
Intelligence sources also believe that DIS head Peter Magosi fell out of favour with President Mokgweetsi Masisi five months before election and would therefore have been unlikely to be motivated to participate in surveillance that could identify potential areas for rigging.
The ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) entered the 2024 general election as a polarised political organisation, reflecting the divisions that emerged during preparations for its internal party elections ahead of the national polls. The party, its leadership, and their close ties to the DIS were determined to retain power. However, this strategy backfired, leading to the party’s first-ever one-term presidency under President Mokgweetsi Masisi.
Insiders have revealed that the systems procured from the two controversial companies may have been intended to ensure continuity in government, with the goal of securing a landslide victory for the BDP.
Security analysts argue that a key focus was the relationship between the current President, Adv. Duma Boko, and the former President, Ian Khama, who also served as Patron of the Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF), particularly regarding their financial connections.
“You see this comes to the utterances made by the then head of State Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi in Tlokweng during the BDP Manifesto launch when he spoke about intercepting of possible funds transaction to the opposition.
“And the posture displayed you could tell was of people with high technology who did not want any trace but were exposed. You need this kind of system to break such barriers.
“So it will make sense that the equipment arrived or were procured at that time. It is only that people did not read between the lines.
“That is how sophisticated the system is. It can even easily locate where you are without even using a cellphone,” another source revealed.
The source added that all that is needed is Information Management System (IMS) capture, which captures the serial number of your cellphone.
IMS is a database and transaction management system primarily associated with IBM, used to store, organise, and retrieve complex data structures, particularly on mainframe systems, utilising a hierarchical database model; essentially, it is a legacy system for managing large amounts of data with intricate relationships between different data points.
DIS Public Relations Director Edward Robert and the two implicated companies have not responded to the questionnaires sent to them at press time.
