Tshesebe police station commander, Superintendent Mothusi Phadi, said they frequently arrest Zimbabwean nationals who illegally enter Botswana through ungazetted points of entry. He noted that the suspects often cross into the country to buy goods and then return to Zimbabwe without following lawful border procedures. “They usually cross through ungazetted points of entry to buy goods and take them back to their country.
Some are avoiding paying tax at the border, whilst others do not have valid passports,” said Phadi. Whilst celebrating milestones in inclusivity, with notably P5 billion awarded to vulnerable groups, the report sounds a ‘siren’ on a dangerous and growing trend: the ballooning use of micro-procurement. That this method, designed for small-scale, efficient purchases, now accounts for a staggering 25% (P8 billion) of total procurement value is not a sign of agility, but a ‘red flag’. The PPRA’s warning is unequivocal and must be…
