The Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC) has moved to restrain properties belonging to former Minister of Lands and Water Affairs Kefentse Mzwinila and his wife amid allegations that the couple amassed unexplained wealth and began relocating assets to South Africa as investigations closed in.
Court papers filed before the High Court reveal that the probe was triggered in December 2024 following a report from an anonymous whistleblower. According to an affidavit by a DCEC investigating officer, the whistleblower alleged that Mzwinila and his wife, to whom he is married in community of property, were in possession of extensive assets disproportionate to their known sources of income.
Preliminary investigations, the DCEC states, uncovered a series of high-value property transactions allegedly settled almost entirely in hard cash. Among the properties under scrutiny are five adjacent farms in Ramotlabaki, purchased by a company known as Psychologists Botswana from one Mpho Balopi.
Balopi reportedly confirmed to investigators that he sold the farms for P1.6 million. What raised alarm, according to the DCEC, was that the full purchase price was allegedly paid in cash, sometimes at the Mzwinila residence and on other occasions at the offices of Psychologists Botswana.
“The investigations are still at a preliminary stage, but the use of hard cash to acquire these properties constitutes proceeds of unexplained wealth,” the DCEC states, adding that unexplained wealth is a criminal offence under Botswana law.
Investigators further allege that a company hired to drill boreholes on one of the Ramotlabaki farms was paid P50,000 in cash. In a separate transaction, Mrs Mzwinila is accused of purchasing a farm at Kgalapitse settlement in 2021 for P450,000, also allegedly paid in hard cash.
Investigators further allege that a company hired to drill boreholes on one of the Ramotlabaki farms was paid P50,000 in cash. In a separate transaction, Mrs Mzwinila is accused of purchasing a farm at Kgalapitse settlement in 2021 for P450,000, also allegedly paid in hard cash.
The DCEC says Mrs Mzwinila has failed to make herself available to explain the sources of the funds used in these transactions. While she was, at various times, a director or shareholder in some of the companies linked to the purchases, investigators argue that this does not satisfactorily account for the scale of wealth accumulated.
According to the court papers, several of the properties were subsequently developed, with all construction costs allegedly settled in cash. Acting on behalf of a company named Wealth Structure, Mrs Mzwinila is also accused of purchasing another farm from Batlhalefang Ramosesane for P450,000 in cash. A double-storey house was later constructed on the property, with the builder likewise allegedly paid in cash.
In his founding affidavit, Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Kgosietsile Ngakaagae says the evidence to be led by DCEC investigators points to a “reasonable suspicion” that the Mzwinilas’ property portfolio is grossly disproportionate to their past and present lawful income.
“Initial investigations point to the reasonable suspicion that the property owned by the interested parties is disproportionate to their known sources of income, in that the income falls far below the value of the amassed properties,” Ngakaagae states.
He further warns that investigators have already uncovered substantial dissipation of funds. “As investigations unfolded, most of the money which was in various bank accounts, as well as some of the developments made to immovable properties, has been dissipated,” the affidavit reads.
Ngakaagae argues that money, being a highly liquid asset, can easily be moved or concealed, creating a real risk of irreparable prejudice to the State if a restraining order is not granted. “Given the ease of electronic banking, further dissipation is not merely possible but highly probable, potentially occurring at the click of a button by parties with criminal intent,” he says.
The DPP further alleges that the couple has already begun physically removing assets from Botswana. Directors of transport companies Ndoro Group Pty Ltd and Bringban Pty Ltd have reportedly deposed affidavits confirming that they were contracted by the Mzwinilas to transport assets to South Africa, and that the removals were carried out.
“It is common cause that the interested parties have already commenced the dissipation of assets, a process which is ongoing and continues unabated,” Ngakaagae states, adding that some properties have already been relocated to South Africa.
Investigators also accuse the Mzwinilas of avoiding attempts to interview them. According to the affidavit, several invitations were extended for the couple to account for the allegations. These meetings were allegedly postponed multiple times, including on one occasion due to what the DCEC describes as an “unusual excuse” of bad weather.
“The surprising fact is that they then proceeded to cross the border into South Africa,” Ngakaagae notes adding that their departure from the country while aware of the investigation creates a reasonable suspicion that they were attempting to evade confrontation.
