Prominent businessman Monty Chiepe has issued a strongly worded statement accusing the current Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) government of perpetuating and embracing corruption practices he says originated under the previous administration.
Chiepe’s remarks follow his recent resignation from the Steering Committee of the Forensic Audit Project, a high-profile initiative tasked with investigating alleged misuse of public funds. His departure has coincided with a wave of leaked correspondence and social media claims, which he dismisses as “fabrications” intended to discredit him.
Though he didn’t mention UDC by name, Chiepe said;
“I have had the solemn duty of confronting the abyss of corruption that has gripped our nation and threatens to endanger its economy for generations if not addressed with responsibility and resolve.”
He stated that he accepted his role on the audit committee “with honour” and maintained that his anti-corruption stance predates his involvement in the project. However, he argued that the initiative itself is undermined by what he described as weak governance and compromised ethics within the Office of the President.
“My experiences are an unequivocal window into the myriad of corruption practices… from looting government to disenfranchising Batswana entrepreneurs,” he said.
“I firmly believe that the mandate of the project cannot be fulfilled under poor governance or compromised ethics,” he said, adding that “corruption is neither protected by law nor above the national interest and public good.”
Chiepe further alleged that systemic corruption has continued across administrations, claiming that “the relay baton of ill-will and corruption [is] being embraced by the current one, in motives and culture.” He rejected suggestions that his stance is driven by personal grievances, saying such narratives are designed “to mislead Batswana.”
“My experiences are an unequivocal window into the myriad of corruption practices… from looting government to disenfranchising Batswana entrepreneurs,” he said.
In one of his most pointed claims, Chiepe alleged that agricultural initiatives—particularly those operating under what he termed the “Developer Manager Model”—have become vehicles for large-scale financial misconduct.
Addressing the recent leaks and online commentary following his resignation, Chiepe suggested a coordinated effort to undermine his credibility.
“These have now become the flagships of money laundering in the agricultural sector,” he said. “Political leaders, contractors, civil servants and agents have overnight become enthusiastic ‘breeders’ without even knowing what the technical implications are.”
He further alleged that cattle farming projects intended to support local farmers have been “hijacked and adulterated” by what he described as “new cattle farming cabals,” accusing them of sourcing livestock from countries such as the United States, Australia, and Brazil without adequate planning or transparency.
“These machinations will be exposed,” Chiepe warned.
Addressing the recent leaks and online commentary following his resignation, Chiepe suggested a coordinated effort to undermine his credibility.
“When selective correspondence from within the forensic audit project is leaked to the press, and pseudo-accounts erupt with malicious fabrications… let it be known: the full story is far bigger,” he said.
