Career history
2002 – present Chief Legal Advisor – Contracts and Procurement
Botswana Defence Force, Acquisition Branch, Botswana Government
Ensuring all procurement and commercial contracts comply with relevant legislation, best practice and deliver intended outcomes for the joint air and land military forces of Botswana and c15,000 personnel.
• Part of team responsible for multi-billion Pula budget – the largest procurement component of government
• Part of team responsible for vetting and improving on solicitation documents
• Wide variety of contracts from military hardware and software to food, provisions, accommodation, leases, services, works and disposal of goods with global supply chain
• Analyse and author contract documents ensuring compliance with relevant statutory obligations
• Built strong stakeholder relationships across government bodies and with international suppliers
• Successfully won credibility and respect as the only female and only civilian in this division
• Upon joining in 2002 there were few formal written contracts and the existing few were heavily biased in favour of the supplier with little or no government negotiation
• Audited 5 years of contracts in 2002 to find international suppliers avoiding tens of millions of Pula in tax and thereafter led tough negotiations with Minister of Finance to waive Defence Force tax liability of over 21m Pula
• Began successful process of re-negotiating and formalising all contracts to ensure improvement in terms and conditions and best value for money
• Received praise and acknowledgement from Attorney General and Public Procurement Board improved commercial contract processes and management
• In 2009 led contract negotiations on purchase of Presidential aircraft and later on disposal of old jet
• In 2011 part of team that planned, scoped and managed contract process for the first national Officer training College including all infrastructure, services and goods
• 2013 key role in team managing strategy to outsource catering services to obtain improved levels of service and best value including writing documents and tenders
1997 – 2002 Lecturer – Commercial Law
Botswana Public Service College
Creating stimulating curricular and classes for over 100 students year studying for a variety of courses in accounts and business studies and in public finance and accounting.
• Authored lectures and courses for students at Certificate and Diploma levels
• Prepared , invigilated, marked and moderated examinations
1991 – 1997 Professional Legal Assistant
Makgabenyana, Bayford and Associates
Liaised with clients, prepared documents for Court and provided a variety of commercial legal duties.
Professional memberships
• Certificate Member of Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply
• Member of Procurement Lawyers’ Association, UK
Selected professional development
Managing Public Sector Procurement Advantage Training South Africa 2013
Managing Risk and Meeting Service Delivery
Expectations
Postgraduate Diploma, Executive Programme in Public Procurement Law and Policy Nottingham University, UK Deferred
Certificate in Public Procurement CIPS Level 3 United Nations Development Programme, Denmark 2013
Project Management Workshop Projectmanagement.co.za 2012
Fundamentals of Procurement Workshop for Botswana Defence Force Botswana Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Board 2012
Capacity Building Workshop on Procurement Planning and Evaluation Botswana Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Board 2012
Negotiating, Drafting and Implementing Commercial Contracts Courgett (Pty) Ltd 2011
Introductory Certificate in Public Procurement, CIPS Level 2 United Nations Development Programme, Dubai 2010
Capacity Building Workshop Botswana Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Board 2010
Tenderscan Workshop South African Govt Procurement Law and Practice, Cape Town 2010
Workshop on Revision of Consultancy Agreement Template Attorney General’s Chambers 2010
Executive Project Management University of Botswana 2008
Education
Master of Laws (Mercantile Law) University of Stellenbosch 2009
Bachelor of Laws University of Zambia 1985 – 1989
Languages
English (fluent) Bemba (fluent) Setswana (intermediate) French (basic)
