Botswana’s umbrella body for non-governmental organisations is demanding greater disclosure from government over the African Hero Initiative and an associated school and clinic development in Block 7, saying citizens need clarity on the project’s financing, contractual arrangements and potential public obligations.
The Botswana Council of Non-Governmental Organisations (BOCONGO) said it isn’t presenting allegations about the initiative as established wrongdoing, but questioned whether government conducted adequate financial, corporate, legal, integrity and reputational due diligence before engaging with or endorsing the project.
‘What checks were undertaken? What were their findings? Who conducted them?’ BOCONGO asked. The organisation’s intervention follows public reporting and parliamentary discussions over the history of a proposal involving the construction of schools and clinics for government.
According to BOCONGO, the Ministry of Finance had previously indicated that such a proposal was rejected because of ‘significant financial implications,’ with government reportedly saying it wasn’t in a position to borrow for the arrangement.
The initiative has since emerged as the African Hero school and clinic development associated with businessman Zunaid Moti.
BOCONGO is seeking an explanation of what changed in the proposal, financing model, contractual structure and government approval process, as well as how concerns identified earlier were addressed. ‘If this is a privately funded initiative, Government should clearly explain what that means in legal and financial terms,’ the organisation said.
It is also calling for disclosure of any public land, financing, guarantees, future government payments, leases, tax concessions or other public resources and obligations tied to the project. The organisation questioned who will finance the initiative and at what cost, who owns the land and completed facilities, and who would bear the risks if the project fails or costs increase.
BOCONGO also raised questions about reported relationships between Moti and leaders of the UDC, while stressing that such relationships ‘do not, in themselves, establish wrongdoing, improper influence or state capture.’
However, it said those relationships make transparency and due diligence more important, particularly amid reporting and allegations concerning Moti’s business activities and relationships with political and government actors outside Botswana.
The group urged government to publish the material terms of the initiative and school and clinic arrangement, explain changes from the earlier proposal, disclose public financial obligations and account for procurement, legal, financial and due-diligence processes.
‘Public accountability is not ‘social media nonsense’,’ BOCONGO said. ‘It is a democratic responsibility.’