Moagi's wealth trail laid bare as trial continues
Larona Makhaiza | Friday June 26, 2026 15:51
She explained to the court that once appointed, officials are required to declare their assets within two months. “Once they assume office, they are within 60 days of assumption of duty required to make declarations, thereafter after every two years,” Keseabetswe said. She added that the law requires fresh declarations if assets or liabilities increase or decrease by P200, 000 or more within that period. “If after making declarations their assets and liabilities increase or decrease in value by P200, 000, the law requires they make declarations to reflect such and such should be done within 30 days after the change occurs,” the witness said. She further highlighted that even after one leaves office, the obligation to declare does not end immediately. “Once you cease to hold office, you should continue to declare until five years,” she revealed to the court. Keseabetswe indicated that upon assuming office Moagi made declarations between December 2020, January 2023 and June 2025. “In 2020 he declared three liabilities. In 2023 he declared the same three liabilities and in 2025 it was still the same liabilities,” she explained. “The liabilities were a P4 million loan from the Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency (CEDA), a personal loan from First National Bank Botswana and a credit card facility,” she testified. The DG added that the P4 million CEDA loan showed no reduction over the years. Crucially, Keseabetswe said she could not recall ever seeing the contested P417 500, at the centre of the corruption case. “I do not recall a loan of P417 500 declared by the accused person,” she said. During cross examination, defence attorney Tengo Rubadiri confronted Keseabetswe with a Ministers and Assistant Minister’s Declaration Form dated November 20, 2019, a document the DG admitted she had never seen before. “These, I did not know of that,” she said. Rubadiri also referred her to Moagi’s financial records, including an FNB savings account containing P1.5 million and several other assets of substantial value. The defence further highlighted declarations of motor vehicles, cattle and livestock worth over P2 million, residential properties and farmland, all of which Keseabetswe agreed were captured in records. The case follows allegations that Moagi used his position as the minister to improperly benefit the Chinese contractor Seyuan Electric in the awarding of Botswana Power Corporation tenders and later received financial proceeds linked to the deals. As a result of that, it is alleged that the ex-Cabinet member solicited 100 heifers and a bull valued at P417 500.00. The trial continues on Monday.