UDC leader says spy agency is a terrorist organ
The Directorate of Intelligence and Security (DIS) has parried away accusations by Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) President, Duma Boko, that it is a terrorist organisation that no longer serves its mandate.
When doing his monthly updates this week, Boko tore the DIS apart labelling it a terrorist organ that is no longer operating within its mandate. “All public institutions are creatures of statute and are strictly regulated and this includes the DIS. I must point out that they have departed completely from their mandate and have gone rogue. They make unlawful arrests and detain innocent people at their torture house in Sebele. You must first investigate then arrest when there is proof but, to them, its vice versa.”
Boko accused the DIS of terrorising people, noting that they were unlike the police, whom, he said, take their job seriously despite working in the most challenging and inhospitable environments. “Police work in the most challenging environment but they still manage to execute their functions with reasonable poise and competence. They are subjected to ignominy of having to carry out improper and unlawful instructions especially in regard to the DIS. We must all offer our support and appreciation to the Police for their diligence in the face of daunting challenges.”
However, DIS spokesperson, Edward Robert, defended the spy agency and assured the nation that as a creature of the statutes, the organisation will always allow the law to guide its operations and to always act in the best interests of the nation. He said that the Directorate, as a public entity, always notes and appreciates any public feedback because such feedback supplements the ever growing discourse which ultimately results in improvement of legislation and accountability mechanisms. “The DIS was established according to an Act of Parliament, namely the Intelligence and Security Services Act (2008), and as such is obliged to conduct its mandate in line with its requirements and other laws of Botswana. The same Act contains several oversight mechanisms that enable any aggrieved citizen to pursue any recourse they are entitled to.”
Robert added that his organisation, like other public entities, subjects itself to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) in parliament where the Director General (DG) faces robust scrutiny. “Furthermore, the Directorate has submitted itself before the courts of law and abided by judgements, even those against it,” he added.