Another State witness backs Moagi
Larona Makhaiza | Monday July 6, 2026 06:00
The testimony came from Ministry of Minerals and Energy economist Manele Rakeitse and former Permanent Secretary Ellen Madisa, who were both called by the prosecution.
Their evidence centred on the planning, funding, and procurement of the North West Transmission Grid Project, an infrastructure rollout that has become central to the State’s case against the former minister.
Rakeitse, who has served as an economist in the ministry since September 2019, told the Broadhurst Regional Magistrates’ Court that the project was conceived through formal national planning structures and not through any unilateral ministerial decision.
“My role is to advise the accounting officer on the planning and execution of the development plan,” Rakeitse told the court.
He said he was directly involved in preparing sector strategies under National Development Plan 11, the Transitional National Development Plan, and the current National Development Plan 12.
According to Rakeitse, the North West project was first conceived during NDP 10 after feasibility studies in 2012 and 2013 established that it was viable to connect North West, Gantsi, and Chobe to Botswana’s national electricity grid.
At the time, the districts were dependent on power imports from Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Namibia.
“The study found it feasible and viable to connect it to the national grid, hence the North West Transmission Grid Project came about,” Rakeitse said.
He explained that the project was divided into two phases, with Phase One connecting Gantsi and North West through Morupule B, Orapa and Maun, branching to Gumare, Shakawe, and Gantsi.
“That component was completed in 2022,” he said.
He told the court that Phase 2, intended to connect Chobe, was delayed in 2018 because of financial constraints before being revived in August 2021.
“The Phase 2 project is to connect the main district of Chobe. This component was delayed in 2018 because of financial limitations,” Rakeitse said.
He added that while the project was already budgeted for, beneficiary ministries also contributed funding, including the Ministry of Agriculture and Water, particularly Water Utilities.
On Moagi’s involvement, Rakeitse said the former minister’s role was limited to presenting and defending the project in Parliament.
“For the plan to be debated at Parliament, it has to be presented by the minister and defended too,” he said.
He further explained that the Committee of Supply process was the avenue used to mobilise resources.
During cross-examination, defence counsel Tengo Rubadiri sought clarity on whether all lawful channels had been followed.
“It went through this process as required by law,” Rakeitse confirmed.
Asked whether there had been any shortcuts, he replied: “No, there were no shortcuts to my understanding.”
That testimony was later reinforced by the State’s second witness, former Permanent Secretary Ellen Madisa, who also distanced the ministry from procurement decisions.
Madisa, who joined the ministry in April 2021 from the Ministry of Finance and later transferred to Trade in 2023, told court that her role was to advise the minister on policy and oversee seven parastatals, including Botswana Power Corporation.
“I was the adviser to the minister for Minerals and Energy policy formulation,” he said.
Madisa explained that all parastatal projects begin at the technical level before being escalated to the ministry and then the minister.
“The planning starts at the lower levels; after all that, we then present to the minister,” she testified.
She confirmed that the North West project had budgetary backing and that additional funding was secured from beneficiary ministries.
“We received correspondence from the Ministry of Agriculture and Water regarding their projects, and they provided P80 million, and I must highlight that it was in the budget,” Madisa said.
“The money was long transferred to BPC.” In what could prove significant for the defence, Madisa told court that procurement decisions were governed by law and not controlled by the ministry itself.
“Government procurement is governed by the Procurement Act and the ministry is not involved,” she said.
She added: “Ministries depend on reports from parastatals that they reflect the true status of procurement and documentation projects.”
The testimonies now add to a growing pattern in the State’s own witnesses whose evidence has, at key moments, aligned with the defence’s argument that institutional procedures were followed and that Moagi’s role was confined to policy and parliamentary oversight.
Moagi faces charges of corruption and money laundering linked to allegations that he improperly benefited from the acquisition of 100 heifers and a bull valued at P417,500. The matter resumes on July 29 and 30.