The petition, dated February 3, 2025, addressed to the Minister for State President, Moeti Mohwasa, the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC) and the Secretary to the President. It outlines a series of serious allegations, including embezzlement of project funds, nepotism and mismanagement of donations by the senior officials. The petitioners have demanded the immediate suspension of Mukokomani, alongside programmes manager, Tshepo Dixon, and head of Health Neo Mogowa, pending a full investigation into their conduct. The petition also calls for a comprehensive audit of the Botswana Red Cross projects and finances, citing multiple instances of suspected corruption and mismanagement. One of the key allegations from the petition relates to the misuse of funds from the Ministry of Health polio campaign awareness and prevention project, which was implemented in February and April 2023. The project, led by Mogowa, is alleged to have been marred by financial embezzlement. According to the petition, “certain officers were given money for mobilisation of communities and we suspect they did not retire the balances.” The petitioners allege that some officers were dismissed immediately after the campaign ended, raising suspicions that funds were misappropriated without proper accountability.
The petition further alleges that similar mismanagement occurred with donations from Standard Chartered Bank of Botswana (P3.6 million) and Coca-Cola (P600, 000) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite these substantial donations, volunteers reportedly suffered from a lack of resources while working on the ground. “Volunteers suffered exploitation due to lack of resources availed to them,” the petition alleges, calling for an audit of these funds. Other projects under scrutiny include the MasterCard and Africa CDC Save Lives and Livelihood initiative, UNICEF projects and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)-funded elections support project. The petition alleges that the senior management created fake invoices for vehicle hires, which were never used as part of a money-making scheme. The Botswana Red Cross First Aid programme, which generates significant revenue for the organisation, is also at the centre of corruption allegations.
