Businesswoman Bridgette Radebe has been 'exploring a potential business opportunity' in Botswana with a company that is suspected of having been a conduit for her to fund an old friend's presidential campaign in the country. She has maintained, however, that she had done nothing untoward.

Questions persist over whether one of South Africa's most prominent businesswomen, Bridgette Radebe, has attempted to meddle in Botswana's presidential succession politics. Recent reports in Botswana's Sunday Standard have connected a number of dots with regards to Radebe's Botswana relations and businesses, but she's downplayed the seriousness of the connections.

According to a report last Sunday, Botswana's Financial Intelligence Agency (FIA) has frozen the bank accounts of Gabarone-based Avante Security Services because of suspicions that Radebe used it to "launder" money for the presidential campaign of former foreign minister Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi.

Venson-Moitoi, who was up against incumbent President Mokgweetsi Masisi, withdrew from the race a day or two before the governing Botswana Democratic Party's elective conference last weekend after a number of her backers were prevented from attending.

Venson-Moitoi was endorsed by former president Ian Khama, who was perceived to have been trying to regain some influence in government after stepping down when his 10-year...