The Duma Boko primary school donation debate
Onneetse Ramogapi | Wednesday September 16, 2026 13:00
There are a few important questions we need to ask when discussing this matter:
In Acts 20:35, we are reminded of the words of Jesus: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Botswana has, for many years, benefited from donations and contributions from individuals, organisations, companies and foreign governments.
Technical colleges in places such as Selebi-Phikwe, Palapye, Jwaneng and Maun were also established through support and donations. The Palapye Police Station was refurbished with contributions from companies including Palapye Quarries and Makoro Bricks. Makoro Bricks has contributed bricks towards the construction of classrooms, houses and water tanks in and around Palapye. The Palapye Mini Stadium was built through the support of Morupule. The list goes on. Botswana has also had initiatives such as Adopt a School, where companies and organisations contributed towards the development of schools and communities. So, one can confidently conclude that there is nothing wrong with donating to society. More importantly, receiving donations is certainly not something new to Botswana.
We have received medicines and medical equipment as donations over the years. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Botswana also received much-needed equipment and support from various donors. But, perhaps, the biggest difference in this particular case is transparency. President Duma Boko publicly identified and declared the donor, Rre Moti. The public was not left guessing about where the donation came from. That is an important distinction.
For many years, questions have been raised about political party sponsorship and funding in Botswana, with political parties often not publicly declaring all their sponsors. This is not a conversation that should suddenly begin today simply because President Boko has openly acknowledged a donor.
The issue of political funding and sponsorship has always existed and should be discussed consistently across all political parties, including the BDP, BCP and others. If transparency is what we want from our leaders, then surely publicly declaring who has made a donation should be encouraged rather than criticised. Perhaps, the bigger question is: Why is there so much controversy around donations now? We cannot celebrate donations when they benefit us and suddenly condemn them when they are associated with people we do not support politically. What is interesting, however, is that donations themselves have never been a new concept in Botswana's development. In fact, there were times when people were calling for investors and individuals to be given the opportunity to donate much-needed health equipment during the COVID-19 pandemic. So, what has really changed? Let us be consistent. A donation that genuinely benefits the people and contributes to the development of our communities should be judged on its impact, transparency and intention, not simply on who facilitated it.
Botswana has always developed through partnerships, contributions and the generosity of many people and organisations. Donations are not new. The real conversation should be about accountability, transparency and ensuring that the people truly benefit. And if we truly want transparency in public life, then we should demand it from everyone, not only from the leaders we disagree with politically.
*Onneetse Ramogapi is a Cabinet Minister in Boko's administration responsible for Water and Human Settlement.