DIS reshuffle raises eyebrows

The Directorate of Intelligence Service (DIS) is allegedly involved in a sweeping restructuring process which has raised eyebrows within the security cluster.  Some view it as a silent transition.

The recent deployment and employment of senior officers at the agency has given credence to speculation that the DIS Director General Peter Magosi could be on his way out.

Communications Director at DIS Edward Robert says restructuring within the DIS started when Magosi was appointed the spy chief.

“As you may already be aware, the appointment of Brigadier (Rtd) Peter F. Magosi in 2018 meant that as a leader he would bring strategic changes to the Directorate and that these changes would affect some or all operations of the Directorate. The Directorate has been on record a few times acknowledging that such changes will occur from time to time and are implemented to improve the Directorate’s efficiency and professionalism,” he said.

Recently DIS officers were shocked when one Director was deployed to another government ministry and replaced by someone with different qualifications.

“It is very clear that the new director is not part of Magosi’s team because the guy is not from the disciplined forces and we believe is part of the new team that is being built post Magosi,” revealed a source.

Robert said like any organisation it is normal for the DIS to redeploy its staff according to arising need from time to time.

“While there is nothing to confirm, this is an on-going process that can be reasonably expected to occur as and when the organisation finds it suitable to achieve different goals important in executing its mandate as per the Intelligence and Security Service Act (2008),” he said.

The new team, which is being assembled, is said to be close to deputy Director General of DIS Tefo Kgotlhane who some claim could replace Magosi.

Sources close to the Directorate have revealed that Kgotlhane, who is mostly involved in administration, wants to eliminate “seams” within the organisation which is said to be deeply divided.

Asked about the new appointments and deployment of senior officers, Robert said they cannot discuss internal appointments with the media.

Will Magosi resign?

Both the Office of the President and Magosi have been mum about the allegations that he might leave the Directorate due to frustrations and failure to achieve what he set for himself. Those close to Magosi have revealed that he has confided to them that he intends to step down and focus on his projects, especially farming.

“He might step down before April this year. He wants to rest and has allowed Kgotlhane to do most of the administration work,” revealed the source.

When he assumed office, Magosi found a divided intelligence unit with some deeply loyal to the founding Director General Isaac Kgosi and those who were frustrated.

His appointment is said to have further polarised the Directorate as he also brought his own people, mostly retired Special Forces officers from Botswana Defence Force (BDF)).

After his appointment as DG, Magosi vowed to root out corruption within government and his target was Ministry of Land Management, Water and Sanitation Services where it was said corruption was rampant, especially in the awarding of the multibillion water tenders.

The operation led to some companies being blacklisted but the courts of law overturned the decisions as they said the DIS failed to come with evidence to back their allegations that the companies were involved in massive corruption.

Government lost millions of Pula as they had to pay some of the companies whose contracts were cancelled due to instructions from DIS.

Another slap on the face of the DIS was the infamous terrorism case involving DIS agent Welheminah Maswabi code named ‘Butterfly’ which was withdrawn by the state with liberty to reinstate it after completion of investigations.