The Botswana Government has initiated steps to settle with all individuals accused in the infamous ‘Butterfly’ case.
This was revealed on Monday morning before Ntlo ya Dikgosi by the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services, Nelson Ramaotwana, in response to a question posed by one of the accused, former President Ian Khama.
“I have directed that the plaintiff and defendant meet to resolve this matter amicably. We acknowledge that defamation has occurred. If someone is accused of theft but there is no complainant and if the Bank of Botswana (BoB), as custodian, says nothing is missing then there is no issue. The BoB has submitted a report,” Ramaotwana stated.
He further explained that the settlement process will allow parties to decide amongst themselves whether the resolution will involve a formal apology or monetary compensation. The minister said the move is in line with President Duma Boko’s directive that the state should refrain from persecuting innocent citizens.
Background of the Case
The matter dates back to 2019, when Directorate of Intelligence and Security Services (DIS) agent Wilhelmina Maswabi codenamed Butterfly was arrested at one of the agency’s offices in Commerce Park, Gaborone. She was subsequently questioned and later suspended from duty.
At the time, the state claimed her arrest was connected to an alleged P100 billion that was purportedly siphoned from the Bank of Botswana. The case also implicated several high-profile individuals, including former President Ian Khama, South African businesswoman Bridgette Motsepe, and former DIS Director-General Isaac Kgosi.
Maswabi’s arrest sparked a protracted legal battle that lasted until 2021. Ultimately, South African advocate Gerrie Nel of AfriForum, advised the state to drop the charges due to a lack of evidence.
In a scathing 2021 ruling, Justice Zein Kebonang found that the allegations against Maswabi were not only unfounded but fabricated. He dismissed claims from the Diractorate on Corruption and Economic Crime investigator Jako Hubona’s affidavit, which alleged that Maswabi was a signatory to multiple South African bank accounts linked to non-existent companies named Blue Files and Fire Files with balances exceeding $10 billion.
Justice Kebonang concluded that neither the accounts nor the companies existed, branding the accusations as “outright false”.
