Botswana's Assistant Finance Minister Vincent Seretse has appeared before court on two counts of corruption, becoming the third minister facing corruption charges in Khama administration in three years.

According to local radio GabzFM on Tuesday, the charges emanate from a Botswana Telecommunications Corporation (BTC) tender awarded to a company called Serala, owned by Paul Paledi, a "high profile figure" of the ruling Botswana Democratic Party, during the construction of the multi-million pula Trans-Kalahari underground fibre project.

Prosecutors allege that in February 2008, Seretse as BTC chief executive, failed to disclose his interest in Serala Pty Ltd, and participated in BTC board processes that awarded a tender to Serala.

Seretse is also accused of abusing his office as BTC boss, by directing eight employees to offer their services to Serala. It is alleged that Seretse supplied Serala with their CVs and further entered into letters of intent for employment with Serala while they were still BTC employees.

The prosecution says Seretse's act was prejudicial to the rights and interests of BTC. He is being charged alongside Paledi.

It is said Seretse is the third minister in Botswana President Ian Khama's administration in three years to face corruption charges.

The case has been deferred to Dec. 12, after the Director of Public Prosecution, Leonard Sechele, indicated that they may change the charge sheet. Sechele also said the matter will be moved to the Gaborone High Court that deals with corruption matters.

The Botswana government vows "zero tolerance" of corruption. The Directorate of Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC) was set up in 1994. The DCEC has powers to investigate (but not prosecute) corruption cases, and to implement preventative strategies and carry out public education on the issue. Its director reports to the president, with decisions on prosecutions taken by the attorney general - a position constitutionally independent of the government.

According to Transparency International's Corruption Perception Index, Botswana is cited as being the least corrupt country in Africa, as well as among the least corrupt countries in the world. Endi

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