Botswana's former Minister of Minerals and Energy, Lefoko Moagi, has been acquitted and discharged in a corruption case involving an alleged P4.7 million payment linked to companies that conducted business with his former ministry.

The ruling was delivered on October 29, 2026, by Regional Magistrate Mareledi Dipate, who found that the prosecution had failed to prove its case.

The allegations concerned an alleged payment made in April 2024, when Moagi was serving as minister. Prosecutors claimed that he received access to P4.7 million through a bank card provided by Wise Creatives Investments, a company linked to New Energy (Pty) Ltd and Riders (Pty) Ltd.

The companies were associated with business activities involving the ministry, including the award of eight prospecting licences to New Energy.

The magistrate said the State had not demonstrated how Moagi influenced the awarding of the licences. The court also noted that the alleged company directors had not been called to testify.

The acquittal brings the criminal proceedings against the former minister to a significant conclusion. It also places renewed attention on the standards of evidence required in high-profile corruption cases involving public officials.

The ruling does not establish that the allegations were true; rather, the court found that the prosecution had not proved the charge.