BCP to report Harvey, gov’t ‘secretive’ deal to American authorities
Pini Bothoko | Monday December 11, 2023 06:00
BCP’s suspicion comes after Harvey launched Mass Media Studio 4 in Gaborone this week. Already a controversial subject, government’s secrecy in the way it conducts its business with Harvey has attracted legal proceedings from the BCP with the latter ready to go ahead should Harvey and government’s affair blossom.
Though the official version from President Mokgweetsi Masisi indicates that Harvey is back in Botswana to work on mentoring local production houses among others, a lot is said to be happening on the sidelines.
Back in 2021, the government through the Department of Broadcasting Services (DBS) signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Harvey regarding the facilitation of the creative industry. A P470 million contract to run a three-year provision of radio and television production services to DBS was allegedly awarded to Harvey.
After careful consideration of the implications surrounding the controversial direct appointment, Harvey allegedly decided not to upend his signature to the contract. Harvey hesitated to do so following strong resistance from the Botswana opposition parties and the civil society.
The appointment caused a public stir as many questioned the awarding process and why local content producers were sidelined. In October 2021 the Botswana Congress Party (BCP) took the matter to court and filed an application to review and set aside the then Ministry of Presidential Affairs, Governance and Public Administration (now Ministry of State President) and DBS’ decision to sign an agreement for the direct appointment of Harvey to provide radio and television production services.
They also wanted to seek a review of the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA)’s decision to approve the direct appointment of Harvey for the said services and how Steve Harvey Global was identified as a potential.
However, in his answering affidavit, Raymond Tsheko, the director of the DBS said there was no contract between the ministry, DBS and Harvey. Concerning this week’s developments in which Harvey visited Botswana to launch the Mass Media Studio 4, the BCP has revealed that it has renewed worries about a potential new deal for Harvey.
In an interview with Mmegi, explaining what promoted their case, BCP’s President Dumelang Saleshando revealed that recently the government’s attorneys handling the matter suggested that the BCP should not pursue the case since no contract was signed. Saleshando said the lawyers however could not give them any assurance that no such contract could be signed if they abandoned the case.
“These developments suggest that there is a contract in place with Harvey contrary to what they said even in an affidavit which is a sworn statement. Essentially the government lied to the court to conceal what is going on and we are worried about this secretive deal. This also suggests pure corruption, and the big question is what is the President getting in return? He is certainly getting something in return, otherwise, what’s the benefit of him bending the rules? He is doing so because he will also get something in return,” Saleshando said.
Saleshando further stated the government’s approach surely suggests that it was a purpose to conceal information that would confirm BCP’s suspicions. Asked about the latest developments and the way forward, Saleshando said the BCP will be proceeding with the case and also have the option of approaching the American authorities about their citizen who is engaging in what appears to be corrupt practices.
“We will also report him to the relevant authorities in the US because the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act allows that. As an American citizen, he can be subjected to that Act. What the President has always said was that he and Steve Harvey are personal friends and it caught our attention that he has now decided that his government should award his personal friend a direct tender,” he said.
He further stated that recently the government revealed that they cannot do business with enemies. He, however, stated that Harvey is free to use his money as he pleases with whoever he wants but Masisi does not enjoy the same benefit because the latter will be using Batswana’s money.
Saleshando said they had to scrutinise the Harvey deal to establish if it was a direct appointment as they suspect, and if the country will be getting value for money.
“In these exchanges, the government is also refusing to divulge certain documents but when administering public account one should account. The reluctance to account suggests that they know they did not follow the rules or bend the rules,” he said.
But when Masisi welcomed Harvey this week at the Office of the President he reportedly offered the reassurance that the decision to engage Harvey was done in good spirit in the best interest of developing the country’s creative sector. Quoted by the government publication, Daily News, Masisi said the country’s production houses would leverage the experience of Harvey, and utilise the facilities provided at the Mass Media Complex for different forms of capacitation and training.
Contacted for comment, DBS director Tsheko could not shed light on the development safe to say: 'The relevant person to talk to is the Permanent Secretary to the President, she is the one who could also authorise me to comment on the matter but as of now I can't comment on the matter,' Tsheko said.
Our efforts to speak to the Permanent Secretary to the President Emma Peloetletse hit a blank as she claimed to be in a meeting at press time.