Questions surrounding Minerals and Energy Minister Bogolo Kenewendo have taken a political turn after unconfirmed allegations that she may be under investigation by the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC).
Responding to questions from Mmegi, Kenewendo’s private secretary, Pearl Dikai, said the minister was outside the country on official duties and therefore unavailable to respond personally. “The minister’s office is not aware of any investigation by the DCEC involving the minister,” her office said. The DCEC has not publicly confirmed that it is investigating Kenewendo. Without such confirmation, claims of a formal probe remain unverified. The allegations reportedly centre on two issues: Kenewendo’s role in negotiations involving De Beers and questions concerning the acquisition and financing of her property in Phakalane. Questions submitted to the minister sought clarity on where responsibility for the De Beers negotiations rests within government, the extent of her involvement in the process and whether she had the authority to alter any terms of Botswana’s agreement with the diamond company. Her office was also asked how the Phakalane property was acquired and financed, including whether a commercial bank funded the purchase. Beyond denying knowledge of a DCEC investigation, the office did not provide substantive responses to these questions. The allegations concerning De Beers carry particular weight because of Kenewendo’s portfolio. As Minister of Minerals and Energy, she sits at the centre of one of Botswana’s most strategically important sectors. Diamonds remain a major source of export earnings and government revenue, making negotiations concerning De Beers matters of considerable national, economic and political significance. Claims that Kenewendo improperly interfered in the negotiations have not been supported publicly by documentary evidence. It is also unclear which decisions she is alleged to have influenced, when the alleged interference occurred or whether any negotiated terms were changed as a result. Sources close to the minister contend that the controversy is less about corruption and more about internal political competition. They describe it as a “witch-hunt” driven by elements within the Umbrella for Democratic Change who believe Kenewendo should not occupy one of the government’s most influential portfolios because she is not formally aligned with any of the parties constituting the ruling coalition. Kenewendo occupies an unusual position within the UDC administration. She was among the specially elected Members of Parliament brought into the National Assembly after the coalition’s victory in the 2024 general election, but does not have an established political base within any of its constituent parties. Her political history adds another dimension. Kenewendo previously served as a minister under former President Ian Khama’s Botswana Democratic Party administration. Her return to a senior cabinet position under a UDC government has made her one of the few prominent political figures to serve at cabinet level under two different administrations. According to her allies, this has made her vulnerable to opposition from sections of the coalition that believe senior government positions should be held by individuals with deeper roots in the parties that delivered the UDC’s electoral victory. That political context does not, however, place Kenewendo beyond scrutiny. Questions involving major national negotiations, the exercise of ministerial authority and the financial interests of public officials are legitimate matters of public interest. Describing allegations as a political witch-hunt does not, by itself, answer them. Equally, allegations of corruption and official misconduct carry serious reputational consequences. They require credible evidence, clear attribution and confirmation from the institutions legally mandated to investigate them. Political rivalry cannot be treated as proof of wrongdoing. For now, Kenewendo finds herself at the intersection of Botswana’s diamond interests, internal coalition politics and demands for public accountability. Whether the controversy develops into a substantive investigation or is exposed as a political campaign against her will depend on evidence that has yet to enter the public domain.
