BOTASH Managing Director Montwedi Mphathi has left the company under controversial circumstances. In a memo to the staff, Board chairman of BOTASH Ian Forbes said Mphathi has left the soda ash mining company to pursue other business interest and that Kangangwani Phatshwane will act as Managing Director. Though the memo didn’t indicate where he was going, highly placed sources within the mining industry have revealed that Mphathi will be joining Debswana in a senior capacity. One of the country’s very thorough and meticulous miners, Mphathi is expected to join the diamond mining company in January next year. This is not the first time that Mphathi has been linked with Debswana as in 2008 it was alleged that there was board resolution that he should be appointed deputy Managing Director – Operations. Behind the resignation Highly placed sources at BOTASH have revealed that the resignation of Mphathi is covered by a dark cloud as his relationship with the board and some senior managers had broken irreparably. It is said they felt he did not consult and was taking some decisions alone. At the centre of the storm are the allegations that corruption is rampant at BOTASH with tenders given to certain…