BITC boss grilled over credit card abuse
Isaac Pinielo | Friday November 18, 2016 14:38
The committee heard that the chief executive and other managers have been furnished with credit cards that they have been using for the past two years in their numerous business trips abroad, while they get travelling allowances at the same time.
Committee chairman, Samson Moyo Guma enquired from Sejoe why he did not question this arrangement as it was tantamount to fraud.
“This is very serious and there is need to investigate these alleged fraudulent activities involving credit cards,” he said.
In response, Sejoe indicated that an internal investigation is already ongoing pertaining to the abuse of credit cards issue and other maladministrations.
“We are hoping to get a report very soon from the internal auditors who are carrying out the investigations,” he said.
Asked whether there are other matters under investigation, Sejoe said the organisation closely monitors the ICT infrastructure on a regular basis, since it is where the organisation keeps its sensitive information.
He also noted that procurement is the other area of focus when it comes to investigations, as it is a risky realm.
Guma cautioned the chief executive to put his organisation in order accusing it of maladministration.
Meanwhile, Sejoe stated that BITC as an integrated investment and trade promotion authority under the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry, is facing challenges that negatively affect their ability to carry out the mandate of investment promotion and attraction, export development and promotion including management of the national brand.
He cited challenges such as restrictive labour and immigration regulations, noting that it is proving to be very difficult to import specialised skills into Botswana to support the growth of priority sectors such as manufacturing.
“Consequently, investors put expansion plans on hold and are even at times forced to close operations where the renewals of permits for specialised skills are denied,” he said.
He said currently, there are two independent permit application systems for both labour and immigration, adding that these procedures are not synchronised, which makes it costly and onerous on investors.
“This affects the efficacy with which BITC can deliver its mandate,” he said. Sejoe recommended that labour and immigration permit application be merged into one so as to ensure that investors are vetted once and only one permit issued.
He said this would reduce the time and cost of acquiring permits.