DCEC casts wider anti-graft net
Spira Tlhankane | Wednesday October 14, 2026 06:00
At the centre of the unfolding legal drama is the Gaborone Regional Magistrate’s Court.
At this busy court, a new round of high-profile proceedings is adding to an already crowded diary of corruption-related cases involving former ministers, politicians, businesspeople, and senior public officials.
The latest developments include a case linked to the alleged fraudulent acquisition of more than P272 million from government through the Tutume Infrastructure Project.
In this case a warrant of arrest has been issued against a former public prosecutor accused of soliciting a P2,000 bribe, while in another a corruption charge has been preferred against a former acting deputy CEO of the Botswana Qualifications Authority (BQA).
From major public procurement contracts to alleged misconduct involving relatively small sums of money, the cases offer a glimpse into the breadth of allegations being pursued by the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC).
They also come against the backdrop of renewed public expectations that the country’s anti-corruption institutions will investigate and prosecute wrongdoing without fear or favour under the Umbrella for Democratic Change’s (UDC) administration.
But the growing number of cases has raised an important question of whether the prosecution drive can translate into successful court outcomes rather than court parades.
P272m tender saga takes centre stage
One of the most significant matters announced recently by the DCEC involves former legislator Johane Luther-Tine Thiite, prominent businessman Nicolas Zakhem and several individuals and companies linked to the Tutume Infrastructure Project tender.
In a press release, the anti-corruption agency announced that Thiite, Thiite Rubble Screeners (Pty) Ltd, Zac Construction (Pty) Ltd, Kagiso Nthaga, Tumelo Johane Mbaiwa, Portia Tebogo Gilika, and Haas Consult Southern Region Africa (Pty) Ltd had been served with charge sheets and summonses to appear before the Gaborone Regional Magistrate’s Court on October 15.
Zakhem is also named in the case, although the DCEC said it had been unable to serve him because he was reportedly outside the country at the time. The accused are alleged to have been involved in offences connected to a tender awarded by the Central District Council for the Tutume Infrastructure Project under the Economic Stimulus Programme.
According to the DCEC, the alleged scheme involved P272,378,310.96 obtained from the government through the tender. The accused face charges including obtaining by false pretences, making documents without authority, cheating, corrupt practices and money laundering.
The allegations centre on claims that Thiite, Zakhem and their respective companies acted together, between September and August 2020, with the intention of defrauding the government. The DCEC alleges that fraudulent references were submitted in support of the tender bid to represent that the companies had previously done works for China State Construction & Engineering Corporation when they had not.
Investigators further allege that a forged letter of intent purportedly issued by BancABC was submitted to support the bid. The letter allegedly represented that BancABC would provide a performance bond and advance payment guarantee, although the Bank had not authorised it, or intended to provide the guarantees.
A further allegation concerns the ownership requirements of the tender, and according to the DCEC, Thiite Rubble Screeners was presented as the eligible citizen-owned beneficiary, whilst investigators allege that it was fronting for Zac Construction, which was not eligible to bid because it was not citizen-owned.
The money-laundering counts arise from alleged financial transactions involving funds suspected to be proceeds of crime, which investigators say were intended to conceal, disguise, or transfer the money. The case is particularly significant because it places public procurement under scrutiny, with allegations that documents and ownership representations were used to secure a major government contract.
However, the allegations remain unproven and must be tested through the judicial process. The case is expected to be heard before Regional Magistrate Mareledi Dipate, whose courtroom has increasingly become associated with proceedings involving prominent figures from Botswana’s political and public-service establishment.
From multimillion-pula tenders to alleged P2,000 bribes
Whilst the Tutume tender matter concerns an alleged loss exceeding P272 million, another case announced by the DCEC highlights allegations of corruption within the criminal justice system itself. The Directorate disclosed that Maun Chief Magistrate Reuben Setebela had issued a warrant of arrest against Thandi Poloko after failing to appear for a scheduled arraignment.
Poloko is charged with one count of corruption under the Corruption and Economic Crime Act. The DCEC alleges that on or about March 11, 2024, whilst employed as a public prosecutor at the Directorate of Public Prosecutions’ Maun office, Poloko solicited and accepted P2,000 from Kemang Kapinga. The money was allegedly an inducement for Poloko not to reinstate a criminal case against Kapinga, which had been withdrawn without prejudice before the Maun Magistrate’s Court.
The DCEC says the matter was one in which Poloko was concerned in their capacity as a public servant.
BQA executive faces corruption charges
The DCEC has also announced proceedings against Dr Gillian Keneilwe Mmolotsa, the former acting deputy chief executive officer of the BQA.
Mmolotsa appeared before the Regional Magistrate’s Court on October 5 for arraignment on two counts of corruption.
The first count relates to allegations that, between July and November 2015, whilst employed by the BQA as a standards specialist responsible for developing registration and accreditation standards, she accepted P20,000 as a reward for assisting the Institute of Entrepreneurial Development (IED) with its accreditation. The accreditation process was a matter in which she was allegedly involved in her capacity as a public officer.
The second count concerns events on or about August 5, 2021, when Mmolotsa was serving as acting deputy CEO and a member of the Management Quality Assurance Committee. The DCEC alleges that she had a personal interest in a decision concerning the IED’s application for registration and accreditation, but knowingly failed to disclose that interest whilst participating in the committee’s proceedings.
Mmolotsa pleaded not guilty to both counts and was granted a P5,000 bail on condition that she attends all court proceedings and does not interfere with prosecution witnesses. Her next appearance is scheduled for October 19 for a case management conference. The case places questions of conflict of interest and professional accountability under the spotlight, particularly in institutions responsible for determining whether education and training providers meet prescribed standards.
School placement allegation adds another dimension
The DCEC has also reported the arraignment of Bertha Tshupelo Dintwe before Mogoditshane Magistrate Gofaone Morweng. Dintwe faces one count of corruption arising from allegations relating to her employment at Lesirane Primary School under the Ministry of Education and Skills Development. The DCEC alleges that on June 13, 2023, she offered to accept P700 from a parent as an inducement to enrol a pupil in Standard 3 at the school. She was granted bail on condition that she attends all scheduled court appearances and pays P1,500, with two sureties each bound in the sum of P2,000. Her next appearance is scheduled for October 23 for a case management conference.
The case is not a high-profile one but brings the fight against corruption closer to the everyday experiences of ordinary citizens.
The latest cases add to the increasingly busy courtrooms where several prominent figures have appeared in criminal proceedings. The DCEC has meanwhile reported an increased emphasis on financial investigations, asset tracing, and lifestyle audits, reflecting the difficulty of detecting corruption through traditional bribery investigations alone. The anti-corruption drive also comes at a time of leadership transition at the DCEC, following the recent appointment of Batlhalefhi Moeletsi as a new Director General, with Botlhale Makgekgenene having left the position after the end of her three-year contract in September.
The leadership change comes as the directorate faces mounting expectations to demonstrate its independence, strengthen investigations, and deliver tangible results in the fight against corruption.