02 Aug 2017

It is clear from the Mmegi story of 28th July, 2017 entitled “DIS report on opposition is fake” that some shadowy characters have been bent on a mission to cause chaos and undermine authority in the country by manufacturing and publishing false stories to incite members of the public.

On  past occasion, the Directorate on Intelligence and Security (DIS) has warned local media houses about false information peddlers who seek to tarnish its name, including the so-called “Intelligence Expert” responsible for the most recent report.

It is, therefore, dissapointing that these same media houses continue to publish information from such individuals as this has not been the first instance in which articles based on such bogus reports have been published.

The Directorate calls on the said media houses to do the right thing and publicly apologise and desist from publishing such false information.

The Directorate has had to continuously fend off negative perceptions of an unwelcome organization based on bogus reports and information provided by shadowy characters such as the author in question and his collaborators.

It is also, rather unfortunate that in spite of the fact that the Directorate has been absolved from the so-called plot to create chaos in opposition political party camps, some local commentators continue to spread falsehoods and innuendoes alleging the DIS is involved in such activities as reflected in statements attributed to them in this past weekend’s newspapers.

The Director General of the DIS has stated on numerous occasions that there is no need for DIS to be involved in politics.

Further to the above we are also aware that some (not necessarily all) of those working to spread false stories and disinformation about DIS are in fact motivated by a desire to undermine the Directorate’s ability to carry out its mandate due to their own involvement in organized crime activities such as peddling of illicit drugs.

The DIS, however, will never be deterred from carrying out its mandate and will leave no stone unturned in the fight against illicit drugs and organised crime in Botswana. ENDS