BOTSWANA’S former Minister of Minerals and Energy Lefoko Maxwell Moagi appeared in court on Monday, facing corruption and money laundering charges linked to millions of pula in alleged kickbacks from mining and energy companies.
Moagi, who served in the former Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) government, was granted P5,000 bail by the Gaborone Regional Magistrate Court in Broadhurst. He must notify authorities before travelling outside the country and will return to court on March 31 for a status hearing.
The former minister faces three separate counts spanning transactions totalling more than P5 million between April 2024 and April 2025.
In the first case, prosecutors allege Moagi accepted P4.7 million from New Energy Company (Pty) Ltd through Wisecreatives Investments (Pty) Ltd on April 17, 2024. According to the charge sheet, the funds were deposited into a bank account to which Moagi was given access via a bank card. The payment allegedly rewarded him for issuing prospecting licenses for base metals in the Gantsi, Tsabong and Tutume districts.
The second corruption charge alleges that on August 30, 2024, Moagi used his position as Minister of Mineral Resources, Green Technology and Energy Security to obtain 100 heifers and a bull valued at P417,500 from Sieyuan Electric Botswana (Pty) Ltd. That company held commercial contracts with Botswana Power Corporation, a parastatal under Moagi’s ministerial portfolio.
Prosecutors also charged Moagi with money laundering, alleging he disguised the cattle transaction by signing a false loan contract with a Sieyuan Electric representative identified as Mr Han. The agreement purported that the P417,500 was a personal loan rather than proceeds of corruption.
Moagi is among several former BDP cabinet ministers under investigation for corruption following the party’s loss of power. The case marks a significant test of Botswana’s anti-corruption efforts targeting high-ranking government officials.
