Former President, Kgosi Ian Khama IV, has raised concerns about the scope and objectives of the ongoing government forensic audit.

Khama asked the Minister of State President Moeti Mohwasa why the forensic audit does not cover the full extent of suspected abuse of office by key government officials, particularly after October 30, 2024. He alleged that while one of the two main perpetrators of abuse of office had exited government by that date, the other continued misusing their position into 2025.

Khama further argued that the forensic audit should extend beyond the three years prior to 2018 and cover the full duration of the administration beginning in 2008. He specifically called for investigations into the long-controversial “Butterfly” saga — an alleged scandal involving the misuse of public funds in 2008. Kgosi Khama challenged the government to reveal whether a substantial amount of public funds was indeed stolen or, if not, expose the individuals responsible for fabricating the claims.

In response, the Minister for State President Moeti Mohwasa referred to the March 20, 2025 press conference by President Advocate Duma Gideon Boko, where he announced the appointment of Alvarez & Marsal Middle East Limited to conduct the audit. The Minister clarified that the forensic audit is not targeted at any individuals and is structured broadly to assess systemic issues of fraud, corruption, and inefficiencies across government structures.

“The period covered by the forensic audit was not influenced by any specific person, act, or event,” the Minister emphasized. “The terms of reference do not mention any specifics or cases, deliberately so, as that is not the focus of the audit.”

According to the Minister, the forensic audit will be executed in two phases:

Phase I involves developing a comprehensive audit plan, including risk assessments, mapping of government departments and SOEs, and identifying corruption and fraud risks. Phase II will see up to 30 forensic audits conducted across selected entities, focusing on governance, procurement, compliance, and financial performance.

The Minister reiterated that the audit’s ultimate goal is not to single out individuals but to evaluate governance systems, detect and quantify instances of financial mismanagement or fraud, and refer cases for potential legal or disciplinary action where appropriate.

“As is stated above, the findings of the forensic audit will inform next steps, including legal or disciplinary action, if evidence so warrants,” he said. “However, we must remember that the forensic audit will also evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of governance structures and practices within government ministries, departments, state-owned enterprises, and regulatory authorities.”