The arrest and search of properties owned by former Director General of the DISS Colonel Isaac Kgosi by DIS agents has been praised by many, with some in the opposition calling for charges to be placed against him for all atrocities he committed while he was in charge of the spy agency.
Kgosi has been implicated in many alleged corruption cases with the latest being the looting of the P250 million tax payers money from the National Petroleum Fund (NPF) on what remains the biggest ever money laundering scandal in the history of Botswana.
At the height of his power the then feared spy chief claimed to account to no one when he appeared before the Parliamentary Committee on State Companies. President Mokgweetsi Masisi later relieved Kgosi of his duties and replaced him with Peter Magosi.
Some political activists have called for the serious prosecution of Kgosi, lamenting that Kgosi has been defended on several occasions under the past the regime, with former president Ian Khama being at the forefront of protecting his longtime ally.
In fact in the last days of his presidency, President Khama bestowed on Kgosi the Presidential Order of Meritorious Service despite the many questions that were being asked about his involvement in alleged corrupt activities.
The outspoken Alliance for Progressives’ (AP) Gabane/Mmankgodi MP and former Botswana Defence Force (BDF) Commander of Ground Forces Major General Pius Mokgware said the DISS’s arrest of Kgosi is simply showing the agency is doing its job.
He charged that the intelligence agency should be left to do its job as it is in the course of restoring justice without any fear or favour with interference from those who Kgosi once served their selfish interests.
Mokgware had during Kgosi’s era as the head of DIS stood firm on Parliament floor to oppose the shady dealings that the DISS engaged in such as buying the surveillance equipment with funds unaccounted for, calling for the reviews and amendment of the DIS governing legislative framework.
Another MP from the ruling party who is also Assistant Minister, who spoke to this publication on condition of anonymity, said the DISS has the duty to do their job and refuted claims that the arrest of Kgosi is a move to settle political scores between Masisi and former president Khama over their impasse as some allege.
“The DISS’ arrest and investigation of former DISS Boss is a welcome move by agency because it has the ability to track down any individual for investigations. This issue should not be politicised by all means, let Magosi and his team do their job without politicizing the process,” said the MP.
Dithapelo Keorapentse, MP for Selebi Phikwe West, said the arrest of Isaac Kgosi was long overdue and noted that they acknowledge the DISS’ decision to heed calls for his arrest mainly by political parties, media another sections of the society.
He charged that Kgosi had absolutely no regard for the rule of law, principles of good governance and democratic oversight of the intelligence, adding that as BCP believes his arrest will be meaningless if he is not prosecuted for corruption and economic crimes he is alleged to have committed whilst at the helm of the spy agency.
“The BCP has never approved the appointment of Kgosi from the beginning as it is regarded him not as not only unqualified for the job but also a stooge for of former President Ian Khama. It is common knowledge that Kgosi was protected by Khama who shielded him from prosecution and accountability before democratic institutions,” said youthful BCP MP.