Thursday, June 30, 2022
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Contact
  • Login
  • Register
  • Home
  • News
  • Economy
  • Columns
  • Companies & Markets
  • In Business With
  • Lifestyle
    • Motoring
  • Sports

    BNSC finally disburses Grants to NSAs

    P3m needed for sports awards

    The Mares receive P4.1m from BNSC for Women’s AFCON

    Metropolitan injects P152K into Chess Tourney

    FIDE seconds Trainer to BCF

    Makwala focused on making money this season

    Makwala focused on making money this season

    Athletes urged to desist from doping

    Athletes urged to desist from doping

    P3m needed for sports awards

    BNSC explains delayed Grants to NSAs

    Trending Tags

    No Result
    View All Result
    • Home
    • News
    • Economy
    • Columns
    • Companies & Markets
    • In Business With
    • Lifestyle
      • Motoring
    • Sports

      BNSC finally disburses Grants to NSAs

      P3m needed for sports awards

      The Mares receive P4.1m from BNSC for Women’s AFCON

      Metropolitan injects P152K into Chess Tourney

      FIDE seconds Trainer to BCF

      Makwala focused on making money this season

      Makwala focused on making money this season

      Athletes urged to desist from doping

      Athletes urged to desist from doping

      P3m needed for sports awards

      BNSC explains delayed Grants to NSAs

      Trending Tags

      No Result
      View All Result
      The Business Weekly & Review
      No Result
      View All Result
      Home News

      DISS, DCEC investigate Avani over P6.2m bill

      Appearing before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) last week, Clerk of the National Assembly Barbara Dithapo, who is the Accounting Officer for Parliament, revealed that the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC) and Directorate of Intelligence and Security Services (DISS) were investigating Avani after it submitted questionable and exorbitant bills for providing accommodation to Members of Parliament (MP’s) and their spouses.

      mm by Baboloki Meekwane
      May 18, 2022
      in News
      Reading Time: 2 mins read
      0
      DISS, DCEC investigate Avani over P6.2m bill

      GABORONE 4 April 2020, The main entrance of the Avani hotel during the second day of the state of emergency on 4 April 2020. Botswana president Dr. Mokgweetsi Masisi declared state of public emergency to fight against the Corona virus COVID-19 pandemic. (Pic:MONIRUL BHUIYAN/ PRESS PHOTO)

      Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
      • Questionable bill was reduced from P12m to P6.2m

      What initially seemed like a windfall for Avani Resort & Casino has suddenly turned into a nightmare, as the luxury hotel now finds itself under investigation by the country’s top security agencies on suspicions of overcharging government.

      Appearing before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) last week, Clerk of the National Assembly Barbara Dithapo, who is the Accounting Officer for Parliament, revealed that the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC) and Directorate of Intelligence and Security Services (DISS) were investigating Avani after it submitted questionable and exorbitant bills for providing accommodation to Members of Parliament (MP’s) and their spouses.

      Upon ascending to the Legislature, the MPs and their spouses were temporarily housed at the luxury resort as their official Parliamentary residence was still under renovation. Avani later slapped Parliament with a P6.2 million bill for accommodation and meal expenses accrued between 31 October 2019 and 20 December 2019. A PAC examination and audit later highlighted possible irregularities in the bill.

      “Subsequent to the last PAC examination and an audit which also picked the issue, investigating authorities took up the matter to check if we were billed correctly and whether there were no irregularities. They worked closely with members of staff who were involved in the matter. I believe these officers are competent enough to find anything that my administrative eye or capacity might have overlooked,” Dithapo told the PAC.

      The Parliamentary Clerk also revealed that she queried the bill the first time it was presented by Avani. After receiving the initial bill of P12 million, Dithapo requested a meeting with Avani General Manager Allan Clingham with the intention of demanding a detailed breakdown. The bill was later reduced to P9million. Still dissatisfied, Dithapo directed her staff to itemize the bill to ensure that there was no possibility of overbilling. The figure eventually came down to around P8 million, which according to her was still questionable. After further negotiations with the hotel management, the bill was brought down to P6.2 million, which government paid on 17 March 2020.

      A review of the invoice attached to the bill revealed that 50 percent of the total accommodation and meal costs were described as ‘no show’ meaning that some MP’s did not use the accommodation that was provided for them. “The ‘no show’ cost was an opportunity cost for Avani as the hotel would have otherwise lost business if they were not billed. Had the rooms not been block booked, the hotel would have availed them to other paying clients,” Dithapo explained to the PAC.

      Tags: Allan ClinghamAvani Resort & CasinoDirectorate of Intelligence and Security Services (DISS)Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC)Public Accounts Committee (PAC)

      Navigation

      • Home
      • News
      • Economy
      • Columns
      • Companies & Markets
      • In Business With
      • Lifestyle
        • Motoring
      • Sports

      Recent News

      • Did Abdoola’s Dubai Debacle violate BSE Rules?
      • Deduct 10% commission, always!
      • The building blocks of financial success
      • Protecting the investor
      • Experts expect ERTP to gain pace

      Site

      • About
      • Advertise
      • Privacy Policy
      • Cookie Policy
      • Contact

      © 2021 The Business Weekly & Review. All Rights Reserved.

      No Result
      View All Result
      • Home
      • News
      • Economy
      • Columns
      • Companies & Markets
      • In Business With
      • Lifestyle
        • Motoring
      • Sports

      © 2021 The Business Weekly & Review. All Rights Reserved.

      Welcome Back!

      Login to your account below

      Forgotten Password? Sign Up

      Create New Account!

      Fill the forms below to register

      All fields are required. Log In

      Retrieve your password

      Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

      Log In
      This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.
      Are you sure want to unlock this post?
      Unlock left : 0
      Are you sure want to cancel subscription?