Gaborone:  Former Minister of Defence, Security and Justice, Ndelu Seretse, who officially resigned from cabinet on Monday, has been charged with corruption by the Directorate of Public Prosecutions.

According to the charge sheet, Seretse is said to have acted in contravention of Section 31 (1) as read with Section 36 of the Corruption and Economic Crime Act.

The particulars of the offence are that "between June 17 and 18, 2008 in Gaborone, whilst he was a member of the cabinet of the Republic of Botswana, wherein he served as the minister of defence ,justice and security, and as such responsible for the Botswana Police Service, minister Seretse is alleged to have entered into contract with the Botswana Police."

He had a direct interest as shareholder and director in a company called RFT Botswana (PTY) Ltd, a company with which the Botswana Police Service, a department under his ministry, proposed to enter into a contract for the supply, delivery and commissioning of Aviation Ground Support Equipment per tender No. PR 2/4/2/08 (XLII), and knowingly failed to disclose, at the material time, to the President of the Republic of Botswana, Ian Khama, as the head of the said public body, that the said company in which he had direct interest as shareholder and director, was involved in the tendering as aforesaid".

Kabo Leinaeng and Khan are expected to prosecute, while Parks Tafa of Collins Newman is expected to defend. Seretse will appear before Gaborone Chief Magistrate Barnabas Nyamadzabo at the Gaborone Village Court today.