Witness Exonerates Lefoko From BPC Tendering Process
25 Jun 2026
Former Minerals and Energy Minister Lefoko Moagi, who faces corruption and money laundering charges, was not involved in the tendering process for seven contracts awarded by Botswana Power Corporation (BPC) to Sieyuan Electric Botswana, the Gaborone Regional Magistrate’s Court heard on Wednesday.
BPC Procurement Oversight Manager Mr Lerothodi Moshoeshoe testified during Moagi’s ongoing trial.
“In the awarded tenders, my client was not involved in the evaluation, adjudication and awarding process,” Moagi’s attorney, Mr Tengo Rubadiri, put to the witness.
“With regard to the process I outlined, he was nowhere involved,” Mr Moshoeshoe responded.
Mr Moshoeshoe told the court that before the new Public Procurement Act came into force in April 2022, BPC used its own tendering processes, which were not guided by the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Board (PPADB).
Under the old Act, he said, BPC tenders worth less than P500,000 were approved by departmental procurement tender committees, those under P5 million by the executive procurement tender committee, while those above that threshold were recommended to the board for approval.
With the new Act implementation, the BPC Board’s role in procurement became obsolete and ceased to exist.
“All procurement was now placed on the accounting officer,” he said, adding that the new law however allows for delegation of authority.
He added that, of the seven tenders awarded to Sieyuan Electric, one was awarded under the old dispensation while the rest were done under the new one.
Mr Moshoeshoe noted that when approached by the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC) on Sieyuan tenders, he provided documents for all of the awarded tenders.
He said Sieyuan Electric was awarded seven of 13 tenders between 2018 and 2024, it has applied for.
Moagi faces two charges of corruption and money laundering.
On the corruption charge, the state alleges that between 30 November 2024 and 22 April 2025, while serving as Minister of State and Member of Parliament, Moagi used his position to obtain valuable consideration for his own benefit from Sieyuan Electric Botswana.
He is alleged to have received 100 heifers and a bull valued over P400,000 from Sieyuan Electric Botswana, which had a commercial contract with BPC, a parastatal under his ministerial portfolio.
On money laundering, he is alleged to have, during the same period in Gaborone, acted jointly with another person not before the court to disguise proceeds of corruption.
The State alleges he signed a false loan contract with a Sieyuan Electric Botswana representative, for P417,500, purporting that the cattle bought with that amount were proceeds of a loan advanced by a certain Mr Han.
The trial is scheduled to continue on 26 June. ENDS
Source : BOPA
Author : Bonang Masolotate
Location : Gaborone
Event : Court
Date : 25 Jun 2026
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