BDP IN THE DOCK

• Balopi, Molale, Moagi in charged with corruption
• All former cabinet ministers fingered in tendering graft
• Multi-million-pula contracts form basis for corruption charges

STAFF WRITER

editors@thepatriot.co.bw

Graft busters from the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC) have flexed their muscle, charging former Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) Cabinet Ministers, Eric Molale and the current party President – Mpho Balopi with corruption and fraud, shortly after arguments in Lefhoko Moagi’s case with similar charges, were concluded.

While Balopi – the former Minister of Labour & Home Affairs was arraigned in court and formally charged alongside his co-accused on Wednesday, Molale – the former Minister of Transport & Public Works will join his co-accused when they return to court on October 09, 2026. Interestingly, a former Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) cabinet minister – Noah Serikgweri Salakae, who succeeded Molale joins him in the dock in corruption charges related to the same contract.

Meanwhile, arguments in the corruption case involving Moagi – the former Minister of Minerals, Green Technology and Energy Security have just been concluded before the Broadhurst Magistrate court, and is awaiting judgment. Although some observers insist that the accused BDP stalwarts are innocent until proven guilty, many are in agreement that the optics are not looking good, particularly on the political front.

Balopi CEDA charges

The Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) this morning arraigned former Cabinet Minister Mpho Balopi, together with Native Outdoor (Pty) Ltd, Native Impressions (Pty) Ltd, Stess Engineering (Pty) Ltd, Thomas Sidney Sharpe, Keysource (Pty) Ltd, Tshepiso Innocent Makgoeng and Duncan Mothusi Gaolebe, before the Broadhurst Regional Magistrate Court.

The accused persons face seven criminal charges relating to alleged Fraud, Attempt to Obtain by False Pretences and Money Laundering, in relation to transactions involving the Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency (CEDA). The accused persons were granted bail in the sum of P10,000 each, accompanied by two Batswana sureties , and were ordered to attend court as and when required. Thomas Sidney Sharpe was granted cash bail in the sum of P10,000, accompanied by two Batswana sureties binding themselves in the like sum. He was ordered to report to the DCEC office on the last Friday of every month.

The matter is scheduled for mention on 28th October 2026, at which date the accused persons are expected to take plea.

Molale office abuse

Former Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) Specially Elected Member of Parliament and Cabinet Minister, Eric Mothibi Molale has been charged with one count of abuse of office. The former Minister of Transport and Public Works becomes the eighth accused person in the Tau Grading corruption case, involving former Transport and Infrastructure Minister, Noah Salakae, Tau Grading and Building Construction (Pty) Ltd, Seby Jose, Hugo Lemcke, Christiaan Lemcke, Kgakgamalo Ketshajwang and Mompati Sepego.

He will appear in court on October 9th, 2026 alongside other accused persons, who face numerous charges related to the awarding of the Ghanzi-New Xade road project. The charges include corruption, corrupting a public officer, abuse of office and money laundering.

According to the charge sheet, it is alleged that in June 2024, when he was serving as the Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Molale directed Ketshajwang to directly appoint Tau Grading and Building Construction (Pty) Ltd for the construction of the New Xade road – a government contract valued at P1,445,754,807.37. The state argues that the appointment was made despite the project requiring the use of a selective procurement method and that Molale’s alleged actions prejudiced the rights of other lawfully registered companies that were entitled to compete for government work in the same construction services procurement category.

Moagi’s kickbacks

Moagi is facing multiple offences including corruption and money laundering. The alleged offences stem from transactions said to have occurred while he was serving as a Cabinet minister and Member of Parliament for Ramotswa constituency.

The state alleges that on or about 17^th April 2024, Moagi accepted valuable consideration from New Energy Company (Pty) Ltd through Wisecreatives, using a local bank account to which he was allegedly given access via a bank card. Prosecutors contend that the funds originated from New Energy Company and its associated entity, Riders (Pty) Ltd, and were received as a reward for issuing prospecting licences for base metals in the Gantsi, Tsabong and Tutume districts. The state maintains that these were matters in which Moagi was concerned in his capacity as a public office.

The prosecution argued that Moagi used his position as minister and legislator to obtain valuable consideration for his personal benefit from Sieyuan Electric Botswana (Pty) Ltd, receiving 100 heifers and one bull, cumulatively valued at P417,500, from the company, which had commercial contracts with Botswana Power Corporation, a parastatal falling under his ministerial portfolio.

In relation to money laundering, the prosecution argued that between 30^th November 2024 and 22 April 2025 in Gaborone, Moagi, acting jointly and in concert disguised property he knew to be proceeds of crime. Prosecutors allege that he signed a false loan agreement with a representative of Sieyuan Electric Botswana (Pty) Ltd, identified as Mr Han, purporting that the P417,500 was a loan, when in fact it was allegedly proceeds of corruption.