28 Feb 2024

The Ministry of Youth, Gender, Sport and Culture has deliberately avoided making a public pronouncement regarding rights to host the Botswana Golden Grand Prix, permanent secretary, Kitso Kemoeng has said.

Appearing before Public Accounts Committee (PAC) in Gaborone on Tuesday, he said, despite the ongoing debate about this year’s event, there was still need to close the 2023 chapter.

“Are they (organisers) not owing anyone from the last meet, are there no issues from the last meet, is everything ok, unfortunately no one is asking these questions,” Kemoeng said.

Thamaga-Kumakwane MP, Palelo Motaosane had wanted Kemoeng to explain allegations that government wanted to take Botswana Golden Grand Prix rights from Glody Dube of Golden Door Sport Agency.

Kemoeng’s position was that the ministry did not want to play to the gallery since Dube was one of their own.

“Glody is our child, we have to handle him with care for him to be what he wants to be. All I am saying is that last year’s event has not been properly closed,” he said.

Furthermore, he said government had contributed to the funding of Botswana Golden Grand Prix, but up to date, no report had been submitted to the ministry.

Kemoeng said they were also aware that some suppliers had not been paid, adding that some funds raised by the event had not been accounted for.

“So we do not want to accuse anyone of embezzlement of funds. We tried to play away from the public space because we might give people the impression that our children are irresponsible,” he said.

As to when school sports will resume, Kemoeng said affected ministries were in dialogue.

“But the position taken is that let us not speak on it, let’s allow the employer to talk about it because the issue borders on employer-employee relations,” he said. ENDS