Betrayed by Botswana? Goabaone Mogwe’s Story About A $662 Million Tender

A letter from local software engineer and artist Goabaone Mogwe to His Excellency Duma Gideon Boko has ignited a firestorm of discussion, raising serious questions about innovation, merit, and government procurement in Botswana. The letter, which has been circulating widely, alleges a pattern of neglect and broken promises from government ministries, culminating in a bombshell claim regarding a massive tender for an education software solution.

Mogwe, a self-described “proud innovator,” details a decade-long journey to develop “Ithute,” an award-winning primary school software. A Masters in Computer Science graduate with a passion for making learning “cool,” Mogwe invested years of his life into Ithute, even teaching himself animation and comic book art to make the platform engaging for young students. He outlines a comprehensive vision for the software, which includes self-tests, AI-integrated tutorials, multiple languages (including Braille and sign language), and a focus on future-oriented careers like robotics and software engineering.

According to Mogwe, his efforts were initially met with encouragement. He alleges that in 2015, the Ministry of Basic Education endorsed his software with a letter, and a presentation in 2018 received high praise from a panel that highlighted Ithute’s affordability and innovation compared to South African competitors. He even claims that a ministry official promised him P1 million from the Japanese embassy to start the project—a promise that, according to the letter, was never fulfilled.
The most recent and troubling part of Mogwe’s account is his struggle to simply get approval for a pilot program. He claims that after securing a sponsor for a pilot and immediate rollout, he was met with bureaucratic delays, including the departure of a permanent secretary. Frustrated, he wrote to the President’s office in April 2025, hoping to expedite the process.

The climax of his letter is a startling allegation: that despite his years of work and the government’s previous interest, a similar “all-including education solution” for a staggering P662 million was awarded to a company allegedly registered in April 2025. Mogwe sees this as a direct affront to hardworking Batswana and a sign that the country does not support local merit or innovation. He ends his letter with a plea to the President to “do the right thing” and consider Ithute for the early childhood education component of the tender.

While these are currently unverified claims, they have struck a chord with many Batswana who feel that local entrepreneurs are often overlooked in favor of foreign or politically connected entities. The letter raises critical questions: How are major government tenders being awarded? Is there a transparent and fair process for local innovators? And most importantly, is Botswana’s leadership truly committed to fostering a culture of merit and homegrown success? The P662 million tender and Mogwe’s allegations will undoubtedly remain a focal point for discussion and debate as citizens demand answers.

His Letter reads “A letter to His Excellency Duma Gideon Boko with regards to the 662 million pula Emeritus tender

My name is Goabaone Mogwe, I’m a software engineer with a Masters in Computer Science, I’m also a self taught storytelling artist, drawing for animation and comic books (working with clients from USA, Germany, France, Denmark and South Africa). The reason why i relearnt to draw was so that i could illustrate for ithute, my primary school software to make it a super engaging leaner platform that captivates students with beautiful art while helping them learn. I believe the key to early childhood education success is to make learning cool. I love innovation and merit. I’m a thinker, I proposed smart water meters to Water Utilities in 2015, (to build and not buy from China, they denied the proposal only to later import the meters after 9 years), i was tinkering with Arduino back then. I proposed a beautiful platform for UpicTv in attempt to make it profitable, and recently i proposed to build a structure to dry the athletics track during the last races when it was raining heavily. All these is to say that I’m a thinker and proud innovator, always thinking about both immediate and futuristic solutions. I was hoping one day to be a beacon of hope to all those who are on their way up, that you too can make it, if only you work hard and smarter enough, something that you yourself promoted when you became president, yet having said all these, I am a perfect example that Botswana as a country does not support merit nor innovation, the country and it’s leadership do not want to see hard working Batswana grow.

I have been working on ithute, award winning (primary school software) for over 10 years, in efforts to make it a sensation when it comes to early childhood education for the African child. I have worked on and off on the software due to delays in infrastructure, and false promises from the ministry of basic education, only for a similar solution to be awarded to an overnight company for an all encompassing 662 million pula, I do understand that the project is segmented, so please consider Ithute for the early childhood solution within the tender. Ithute as a primary school software offers self tests for standard 1 to standard 7 students, Tutorials (integrated AI), Languages (English, Setswana, French, Braille and Sign Language (I built a sign avatar)) Computer Skills, Career Guide to illuminate different careers to kids at a young age, more especially focused on future careers which include, robotics engineering, software engineering, AI & Machine Learning specialists and more, and lastly has Fun Activities. Fun activities cultivate the culture for reading, growing both grammar and vocabulary through literature, comic books and animation. The teacher’s side of the software houses all components necessary for school management, developed in the most simplistic way to cater for primary school teacher’s computer literacy levels, yet appealing and beautiful to work in.

In 2015 i presented the solution to Ministry of Basic Education, the software was endorsed with a letter. It was also endorsed verbally by curriculum development Botswana. We piloted as per the letter, but we never removed the software from selected schools even after the government did not buy it. Rre Moiseraela Goya, a kind gentleman he is, was assistant minister to Dr Dow, he expressed his frustrations that the ministry is failing to make a decision on the software. I had run into him at Airport Junction after his tenure. Moreover, during the US Africa Summit, i ran into Dr Dow at the Stanbic stall and she told me the same thing that government fails to make decisions on incredible innovations and said goa lebanwa in government. A bit of history, In 2018 i was invited for a presentation at education, it was me and South African companies, the panel was excited, promising to buy my software, highlighting how innovative, yet affordable my software is compared to all the companies which came to present. In 2019 i was invited again by the same ministry to an event at GICC, at this time i was invited as a stakeholder, while other companies were pitching an education software, this time they had some companies come from London, if memory serves me well. I complained as to why i was not pitching and a gentleman from the ministry said i shouldn’t worry as the ministry is waiting for 1 million pula from the Japanese embassy and that money will be given to me to start the project. There i was waiting for 1 million pula that never came.

Fast forward, February 2025 i get an approval from the permanent secretary’s office at the ministry of child welfare and basic education to present to ICT and media services department within the ministry. In this presentation, i was only asking for approval to pilot the newly upgraded software, not to sell it to education since gotwe goromente gaa na madi, also i had already secured a sponsor for the pilot and immediate roll out in the adventure the software was permanently approved as a learning aid. I went with representatives from LEA for this presentation and the presentation was wonderful, everyone loved it and promised feedback. I checked and checked on the feedback, the deputy director for ICT & Media services asked me to be a bit patient, and i said, ‘no worries, I’ll keep improving the software while i wait.’ i was later informed that the permanent secretary who had approved my presentation is now out of work because his contract ended, hence we have to wait until the ministry has a new permanent secretary. To give context, LEA came onboard after i became a top 10 finalist in their innovation competition in 2024. I was unsettled by the delay in response from the ministry of education so i wrote to His Excellency at OP in April 2025 asking him to expedite the process of getting a letter of endorsement from education, where i also indicated that I’m not looking for money, i have secured a sponsor, i believed our interests to be aligned as his excellency was always speaking about the desire to introduce learner aid software in early childhood education. I was later informed as i checked on feedback from OP that His Excellency is investigating the issue. Next thing is a slap on the face that the Ministry of child welfare and Basic education has bought an all including education solution for 662 million pula from a company registered in April of 2025. Even today 05 August 2025 i went to OP to check on feedback, i was told my submission e santse e dirwa, ke ipotsa gore e dirwa eng madi one a tsamaya. Let’s do the right thing Mr President and reward hard work and determination, i reiterate, please consider us for the early childhood solution within the tender.”