25 Jun 2026

Former Minister of Minerals and Energy, Lefoko Moagi 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 that the former minister, who is facing two counts of corruption and money laundering, played no role in the evaluation, adjudication or awarding of the tenders.

“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, to which Mr Moshoeshoe responded in the affirmative.

Mr Moshoeshoe explained that prior to the implementation of the new Public Procurement Act in April 2022, BPC relied on its own procurement procedures, which operated independently of the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Board (PPADB).

Under the previous framework, tenders valued below P500,000 were approved by departmental procurement tender committees, those worth less than P5 million were handled by the executive procurement tender committee, while tenders exceeding P5 million were recommended to the BPC Board for approval.

He said the introduction of the new Act rendered the BPC Board’s procurement role obsolete, transferring procurement responsibilities to the accounting officer, although the law still permits delegation of authority.

Mr Moshoeshoe further stated that of the seven tenders awarded to Sieyuan Electric Botswana, one was processed under the old procurement system, while the remaining six were awarded under the new framework.

He told the court that when approached by the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC) regarding the Sieyuan tenders, he provided all documents relating to the awarded contracts.

He said Sieyuan Electric Botswana was awarded seven of the 13 tenders it applied for between 2018 and 2024.

The State alleges that between November 30, 2024 and April 22, 2025, while serving as Minister and Member of Parliament, Moagi used his position to obtain benefits for himself from Sieyuan Electric Botswana, a company that held commercial contracts with BPC, a parastatal that fell under his ministerial portfolio. He is alleged to have received 100 heifers and one bull valued at more than P400,000 from the company.

On the money laundering charge, the State alleges that during the same period, Moagi acted together with another person not before the court to disguise proceeds of corruption.

The prosecution further alleges that he signed a false loan agreement with a representative of Sieyuan Electric Botswana for P417,500 purporting that the funds used to purchase the cattle were proceeds of a loan advanced by a certain Mr Han. The matter is scheduled to continue today. ends