Khama demands answers over P45m sheep procurement
Spira Tlhankane | Monday November 2, 2026 06:00
Khama wants answers over the controversial P45 million Karakul sheep procurement in which the two are implicated. In what could reopen old wounds, Khama recently took the fight to Ntlo ya Dikgosi, pressing government to reveal the status of investigations into the mysterious procurement of the sheep allegedly purchased through public funds. The latest move adds another chapter to the bitter rivalry between Khama and the two men, whose relationships deteriorated dramatically during Masisi's presidency.
Khama, who handed over the presidency to Masisi in April 2018, subsequently fell out with his successor in one of Botswana's most publicised political feuds. Their fallout divided Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) and culminated in Khama's departure from the party. Magosi, who was appointed DIS Director General during Masisi's administration, also became a central figure in Khama's then increasingly hostile relationship with the former government. The former president frequently accused the intelligence agency under Magosi of being used to persecute him and his associates. Now, with Masisi out of power and Magosi no longer heading the intelligence agency, Khama appears determined to seek answers over a scandal that has placed both men under scrutiny.
On Wednesday, Khama demanded that the Minister for State President, Defence and Security disclose the nature and current status of investigations into the Karakul sheep procurement. He specifically wanted to know when investigations commenced, which authority was conducting them and when they were expected to conclude. Khama also challenged government's continued reliance on national security considerations to withhold information surrounding the alleged transaction. The question was a follow-up to his earlier intervention in Ntlo ya Dikgosi (NYD) on June 25, 2026, when he sought answers concerning the controversial procurement. However, government once again declined to disclose details, citing the need to protect ongoing investigations.
'In these circumstances, it would neither be appropriate nor in the public interest for us to comment on the merits of the matter or disclose information that may prejudice, influence or otherwise compromise the ongoing investigations,' Minister of International Relations, Phenyo Butale said. The response leaves Khama's central questions unanswered, including who is investigating the alleged procurement and when the public can expect the findings. Butale maintained that commenting on matters connected to the investigation could undermine its integrity or prejudice possible administrative, disciplinary or legal action.
'We are aware that the Directorate has on several occasions cited security concerns for their unwillingness to explain the alleged purchase of the sheep in public. 'We believe the outcome of the investigations in question would somehow advise on the next cause of action,' Butale stated. He further expressed confidence that statutory oversight bodies would eventually establish the circumstances surrounding the controversial transaction. 'We also believe that relevant statutory oversight bodies, now that they are all fully operational, will find a way to get answers on this matter and all other matters that the Directorate could not engage on publicly,' Butale said. The Karakul sheep controversy emerged from allegations made by suspended DIS legal officer Kuda Malikongwa, who accused Masisi and Magosi of involvement in an irregular procurement arrangement allegedly intended to benefit the former president.
Malikongwa, who is suing the State for more than P2 million over alleged unlawful arrest and detention, claims she was victimised after refusing to facilitate the procurement of Karakul sheep from Uzbekistan. According to her court documents, Magosi personally instructed her to bypass established government procurement procedures and authorise the transaction without the necessary paperwork or oversight. She alleged that the transaction had been ordered by Masisi and that the intelligence agency was being used to facilitate the purchase because of the secrecy surrounding its operations.
'The DG specifically ordered me that no one should know about the procurement and that the Attorney General, the Permanent Secretary (State President), as well as my immediate superior, Director Legal - Pulane Kgoadi, were to be kept in the dark about the transaction,' Malikongwa alleged. She further claimed that Magosi refused to provide a written mandate for the transaction and disregarded her objections concerning its legality. The controversy deepened when the State reportedly admitted during court proceedings that it could not account for the whereabouts of the sheep allegedly procured using public funds. Malikongwa's attorney, Dutch Leburu, has previously indicated his intention to subpoena Masisi and Magosi to testify about their alleged involvement. The allegations, which include claims of abuse of public funds and the misuse of intelligence structures, have not been established as facts by a court.
For Khama, the scandal presents an opportunity to demand accountability from two men with whom he has had a particularly acrimonious history. Butale, meanwhile, has insisted that government has no intention of protecting anyone implicated in wrongdoing. 'We have no interest in shielding wrongdoing where it exists, nor in compromising the integrity of ongoing investigations,' he declared. He maintained that all allegations would be investigated independently, professionally and fairly, with appropriate action taken based on the findings. 'That is the standard of accountability this Government owes to the people of Botswana, and that is the standard to which we remain firmly committed.' For now, the P45 million Karakul sheep mystery remains unresolved. With Khama refusing to let the matter disappear from public scrutiny, the controversy threatens to keep his longstanding rivalry with Masisi and Magosi firmly in the spotlight.