P30m BPC tender row

• Contractors challenge Zero-Pula Connection tender award
• Concerned local contractors allege corruption, kickbacks
• BPC deny corruption, kickbacks or misappropriation allegations

BAKANG TIRO

editors@thepatriot.co.bw

A group of local contractors are at loggerheads with Botswana Power Corporation (BPC) over a P30 million Zero-Pula Connection tender, alleging corruption and kickbacks in the awarding of the contract.

The dispute is currently before the Public Procurement Tribunal who are conducting an investigation against a complaint lodged by local contractors alleging corruption in the procurement process. In April 2024, supported by the Ministry of Minerals and Energy, BPC embarked on the Zero-Pula Connection programme for households, particularly in rural areas to give more citizens access to electricity.

The aggrieved group are demanding that BPC halt all the ongoing works under the Zero-Pula Connection, citing corruption, unfair awarding processes and kickbacks. The concerned contractors argue that most of the works are given to individuals on direct appointments, therefore closing them out because of lack of competitive bidding.

In their affidavit, the aggrieved contractors said BPC in November 2025 cancelled tender 7121/24’s Expression of Interest (EOI) and Pre-Qualification citing budgetary constraints. They alleged that, one month later on 17^th December 2025, BPC approved tender 7574/25 for the same scope NESC Pula Connections. “BPC shows the Budgetary Provision for 7574/25 as P30 000 000, 00 from the “National Electricity Standard Cost (NESC) Fund Revolving’’. No proof of IFMIS allocation as at 17 December 2025 or 15 January 2026 has been attached,” they said.

According to them, this is direct breach of Section 32 (4) and Section 41 (1) (d) of the PPRA Act which prohibit awarding a tender where funds have not been appropriated. “A procuring entity cannot lawfully cancel for insufficient funds and then issue a subsequent tender within a month. We put BPC to strict proof of lack of funds and subsequent proof availability of funds in short space of time,” said contractors.

In addition, contractors lamented that unfairness and exclusion by BPC as it indicated that the tender is only open to contractors who are already its database. They also said they were part of the 201 bidders in the previous 7121/24 tender while the list of 87 pre-selected contractors in the current disputed tender was arbitrarily created.

No kickbacks

Reached for comment, BPC Marketing and Communications Manager, Kefilwe Batsalelwang indicated that the corporation is unable to comment on the matter while it is subject to proceedings before the Tribunal. She, however, said based on the information available to BPC, there are currently no known cases of embezzlement, kickbacks or related financial misconduct associated with tenders.

She said BPC conducts procurement in accordance with the applicable Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) framework, has zero tolerance for such conduct, and has established processes to address any instances of misconduct should they arise.

Meanwhile, Batsalelwang noted that it is important to clarify that; the Zero Connection programme does not engage consultants or award works through Expression of Interest (EOIs). “Works are undertaken by local contractors through the applicable PPRA procurement process. BPC has zero tolerance for corruption and rejects any suggestion that the award of these works involves corruption or circumvention of established procurement processes,” she said.