Botswana Forensic Audit Flags P33 Billion in Suspected Public Losses, Boko Says

GABORONE, Botswana – President Duma Boko told Parliament on 9 November 2026 that Botswana’s national forensic audit is complete and that estimated losses to the nation amount to 33 billion pula across 30 institutions for 2014-2024. He said government has adopted the auditors’ recommendations and is establishing a special investigations and asset recovery task force.

Key takeaways

• Boko said the independent audit by Alvarez & Marsal uncovered suspected corruption, fraud, embezzlement, waste and financial mismanagement covering 30 institutions.
• He put estimated losses at 33 billion pula and said reform implementation “will continue over the next two to three years.”
• Government will establish a special investigations and asset recovery task force and strengthen the Directorate of Public Prosecutions, he said.
• A high-level summary has been published; Boko argued against releasing more detailed findings into “the full glare of the public” before specialised investigators can work.

Speech source

The figures and quotes below are taken from the verbatim State of the Nation Address delivered in Parliament and recorded by Parliament of Botswana.

Video: Parliament of Botswana, “STATE OF THE NATION ADDRESS -09/11/26” (YouTube).

What Boko said about the audit

“Last year we commissioned an independent national forensic audit programme undertaken by Alvarez & Marsal. The audit is now complete and some, a high-level summary of its findings has been published,” Boko said.

“The findings are deeply concerning. The audit uncovered serious instances of suspected corruption, fraud, embezzlement, waste, and financial mismanagement over the period 2014 to 2024 covering 30 institutions with estimated losses to the nation amounting to 33 billion,” he told Parliament.

He described the picture as “a potential criminal enterprise meriting proper serious skilled investigation.” He said government had “adopted the recommendations of the audit in full” and that reform work “has commenced and will continue over the next two to three years.”

Task force and prosecutions

“We are establishing a special investigations and asset recovery task force as well as strengthening the capacity of the Directorate of Public Prosecutions,” Boko said. He argued detailed case material should not be dumped into public circulation before investigators can “follow the trail into accounts even across jurisdictions.”

Independent reporting before SONA said the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime had still been waiting for underlying entity-level reports months after a consolidated summary was published (Mmegi). A government forensic-audit summary PDF circulated earlier in 2026 likewise cited an indicative preliminary estimate of about P33 billion in potential loss or damage linked to referrals from 30 audits (gov.bw summary).

Treat the P33 billion figure as the president’s SONA estimate of potential losses, not as a court-proven recovery total. Asset recovery and prosecutions remain forward-looking commitments unless and until agencies announce completed cases.

Related diamond ownership context

Monday’s address also covered Botswana’s plan to raise its De Beers stake to 30%. See Brimco’s De Beers ownership story.

More from SONA 2026

• Diamonds for Development Fund Receives P1 Billion De Beers Instalment, Boko Says
• Botswana Targets 2027/28 Procurement for Trans-Kalahari Rail and Chobe-Zambezi Water Scheme
• Botswana Airport City Breaks Ground as P25.5 Billion SEZ Bet, Boko Says
• Botswana Adds 200 MW Solar as Power Imports Fall 62%, Boko Says
• Botswana Suspends Fuel and Road Levies for Six Months at P700 Million Cost, Boko Says
• Botswana Lifts Student Allowances to P2,200 and Hands Over 567 Bonno Homes, Boko Says
• Botswana to Double De Beers Stake to 30% as Anglo Exit Advances