Zunaid Moti Builds School Named After Botswana President Duma

South African businessman Zunaid Moti has expanded his African social infrastructure ambitions in Botswana with the unveiling of a school and clinic named after President Duma Boko in Gaborone.

The Duma Boko School and Clinic was unveiled on Saturday in Block 7 at the corner of Sekoma Road and Basotho Drive. The facility was developed by African Hero, an infrastructure initiative linked to Moti Group.

Boko, who serves as founding chairperson of African Hero, joined Moti at the invitation only unveiling.

The development places education and healthcare services within the same technology enabled campus. African Hero says the facility can accommodate approximately 380 learners and support about 288 daily medical consultations.

The project also highlights a broader model that African Hero says could help governments across Africa expand critical infrastructure without relying entirely on traditional construction methods.

From rejected government proposal to flagship project

The Botswana development comes months after the country’s finance ministry rejected a proposal involving a similar infrastructure financing model.

Tshokologo Kganetsano, permanent secretary at Botswana’s finance ministry, told the Public Accounts Committee last year that an investor had proposed constructing schools and clinics before renting the facilities back to the government.

The proposal involved a 17 year lease to own structure using renovated shipping containers for the facilities.

Kganetsano said the financial implications were significant and that the government was not in a position to borrow to finance the arrangement. He indicated that the government preferred an open and competitive bidding process.

Mmegi previously reported a cost of about 9.1 million pula for an individual clinic and approximately 36.4 million pula for a school.

African Hero has since positioned the pilot project as a flagship demonstration of its infrastructure model.

The company says its facilities can be manufactured and installed within one to two months, potentially offering governments a faster route to addressing infrastructure shortages.

A project with political connections

The development has also attracted attention because of Moti’s previous financial support for Botswana’s Umbrella for Democratic Change coalition, which is led by Boko.

Moti financed the coalition during its 2019 general election campaign.

Gaborone mayor Oarabile Motlaleng acknowledged Moti’s involvement publicly during a council debate concerning the project. He said the party had been open about Moti’s role when it sought his assistance.

That history has placed additional focus on the relationship between the Botswana administration and the businessman.

The completed facility reportedly carries the logos of African Hero, Jindal Power and the Aga Isago Development and Empowerment Foundation.

Questions have also emerged around the ownership and structure of African Hero’s Botswana operations. The Gazette reported that African Hero Botswana operates as New Delights, a private company linked to the Moti Group.

Businessman Ramachandran Ottapathu has reportedly distanced himself from New Delights, saying he assisted a friend with registering the company while its directors waited for work permits.

Kesitegile Gobotswang has called for greater transparency around the terms of the partnership involving the Botswana government, African Hero, Jindal and the Aga Isago foundation.

Moti’s expanding African infrastructure ambitions

The Botswana project forms part of a wider social infrastructure strategy associated with Moti’s business interests.

The Aga Isago Development and Empowerment Foundation, which is financed by the Moti Group, describes its model as covering the design, manufacturing, construction, equipping and maintenance of social infrastructure.

Its stated approach involves partnerships with governments, development institutions and private companies.

African Hero has described ambitions to build as many as 50 schools and 100 clinics on a 6.8 hectare site in Block 7.

If implemented at scale, the model could position Moti’s infrastructure interests within a growing African market for private sector participation in education and healthcare delivery.

For African governments facing infrastructure gaps, speed, financing and long term maintenance remain major challenges. Private sector models that combine construction, technology and financing are increasingly attracting attention.

A controversial business reputation

Moti remains one of southern Africa’s more controversial business figures.

He founded Moti Group, a Johannesburg based conglomerate with interests spanning mining, property and financial services.

His business interests have included major operations in Zimbabwe’s chrome industry and the development of FerroChrome Furnaces in South Africa.

Moti was arrested at Munich Airport in August 2018 while leaving Germany following an Interpol red notice connected to a dispute involving Russian businessman Alibek Issaev.

He spent months in a German prison before being released.

His reputation came under further scrutiny in 2023 following investigations by amaBhungane based on leaked internal documents concerning his business and political relationships in Zimbabwe.

The Sentry, a United States based investigative organisation, also published findings concerning Moti’s African Chrome Fields dealings.

Moti rejected the allegations and denied receiving improper benefits from relationships with Zimbabwean government officials. He also denied allegations that he had been involved in capturing the Zimbabwean state.

The Moti Group said confidential documents used in the investigations had been stolen and accused a former employee of taking thousands of files.

A court order obtained against amaBhungane was later overturned on appeal.

Moti subsequently resigned as chief executive of the Moti Group and has maintained that the investigations against him were part of a vendetta.

Botswana could be the beginning of a regional push

The Botswana project could become an important test of whether African Hero’s infrastructure model can expand beyond a single market.

Malawi’s second vice president, Enock Kanzingeni Chihana, attended Saturday’s launch on behalf of President Peter Mutharika, signalling interest beyond Botswana.

The initiative is expected to extend into other Southern African Development Community markets, including Malawi.

Moti is also pursuing community focused initiatives in Botswana, including the distribution of 6,000 footballs to children.

For Botswana, the central question will be how such private sector infrastructure partnerships are structured, financed and governed.

For investors and African business leaders, the project offers a wider lesson. The continent’s infrastructure gap represents a significant commercial opportunity, but the success of private participation will depend on transparency, competitive procurement, sustainable financing and measurable social impact.

The Duma Boko School and Clinic therefore represents more than a new facility in Gaborone. It is also an early test of a private sector infrastructure model seeking a much larger role in Africa’s education and healthcare future.