Good morning, before we begin, I’m still working on editing the audio. When I was working on it, I found a lot of background noise, so I needed to clean it on Adobe podcast, but it limits me to an hour per day. I may be able to upload it tonight or tomorrow if I can’t do it tonight.

With that being said, let’s get into it!

Our beloved country is in a vulnerable position at the moment, as our financial coffers are drying up, and some important programs have been indefinitely paused because the government is now choosing which projects to prioritize.

As our government moves aggressively to attract investors, the bidders appear promising, but due diligence should never be overlooked; not every investor has good intentions or may not be suitable.

What we should look at is one in particular investment group which is a red flag: Zotus Group.

This group is the one that promises to build a big city in the Kalahari worth $12 billion. I have been trying to understand what this group was about for the past 2 weeks, researching about it. Let’s get into what they are really about and their history:

What is Zotus Group

• Zotus Group is a company founded in 2021. zotusgroup.com+1

• It describes itself as a firm committed to advancing humanitarian projects and driving Africa's transformation, with operations in infrastructure, urban development, energy, transport, etc. zotusgroup.com+2zotusgroup.com+2

• It is headquartered (or at least registered) in London, UK. Companies House+2zotusgroup.com+2

Key Projects & Plans

Some of the major projects and ideas Zotus is promoting:

1. Zotus City (aka Kalahari City) in Botswana

   • This is a proposed smart city / special economic zone (SEZ) in the Kalahari Desert. zotuscity.com+3zotuscity.com+3zotusgroup.com+3

   • It aims to integrate sustainable infrastructure, renewable energy (e.g. solar), modern utilities, commercial zones, residential and mixed-use development, tourism, etc. zotuscity.com+2zotusgroup.com+2

   • The plan includes collaboration with the Botswana government; there’s a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) reportedly signed. zotusgroup.com+3EIN Presswire+3zotuscity.com+3

2. Other infrastructure/port/housing projects in other African countries and beyond:

   • A port development project: Atuabo Free Port in Ghana is mentioned among Zotus’s portfolio. zotusgroup.com

   • Affordable housing project in the Philippines. zotusgroup.com

   • Participation in agriculture/agri-food tech. zotusgroup.com

What is Still Unclear / How Much Has Actually Been Delivered

There are several things to note, because as of now, not everything appears fully verified or under full construction:

• Many announcements are in the “plan / MOU / vision” stage. For example, Zotus City is described in promotional materials and via stakeholder meetings, but clear evidence of completed construction or infrastructure is less visible. zotusgroup.com+3zotuscity.com+3zotusgroup.com+3

• Some public information is sparse or comes from the company’s own sources or promotional outlets. That means due diligence is needed. It’s not fully clear how much funding is confirmed, what partnerships are formal and binding, what regulatory approvals are obtained, etc.

• The scale of these projects is very large (e.g. a “multi-billion dollar” city, Dubai-style, etc.). Such projects often face delays, changes, or risk. So while the vision is ambitious, execution is something to watch. EIN Presswire+1

Overall Assessment

Zotus Group positions itself as a big-vision development/infrastructure / urban innovation company focused especially on Africa. Their flagship is Zotus City / Kalahari City in Botswana. They are trying to attract institutional investors, governments, and build large-scale projects.

Zotus Group’s progress so far

• Zotus Group is a UK-registered development firm promoting a large “Zotus City / Kalahari City” smart-city / SEZ project in Botswana and lists other infrastructure projects (e.g., Atuabo Free Port in Ghana). zotusgroup.com+1

• There is a publicised MOU between Zotus Group and Botswana (announced Feb 2025 via Zotus channels and picked up by some press/agency posts). However, most reporting is company/PR-driven and independent verification of on-the-ground construction, secured financing, or finalized government approvals is limited. zotusgroup.com+1

• Company status: Zotus Group International Ltd is a UK company (Company No. 14088466). Companies House records show it was incorporated in 2022 and that the UK entity’s filings list it as a very small/dormant company so far (dormant accounts filed). That’s an important datapoint for assessing capacity vs. the scale of the project they’re pitching. Companies House+1

What I verified (most important findings)

1. MOU / announcement re: Kalahari City (Feb 2025) — Zotus published a press post saying it signed an MOU with Botswana to develop a multi-billion-dollar smart city (Zotus City / Kalahari City). This is the origin of most recent media/social posts. zotusgroup.com

2. Botswana Investment Agency (BITC) visibility — BITC and local exhibition coverage (Global Expo Botswana / related posts) have mentioned or welcomed the Zotus City announcement, which lends some official visibility (BITC public channels referencing the project). That said, BITC posts appear promotional and do not by themselves confirm final land transfers or full government financial commitment. LinkedIn

3. Primary reporting mostly from company & regional media — Much of the coverage comes from Zotus’s site, social posts (LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram), and regional/sector outlets republishing the announcement. Larger independent outlets with on-the-ground investigative reporting are scarce so far. zotusgroup.com+2Zotus City+2

4. Company legal/filing record (UK Companies House) — Zotus Group International Ltd (Company number 14088466) is registered in London, incorporated in May 2022. Filing history includes dormant accounts — i.e., small/dormant at least up to the last filed accounts. That’s factual public corporate data. Companies House+1

5. Other project claims need context — e.g., Atuabo Freeport — Zotus lists Atuabo Freeport (Ghana) among projects and claims MOUs in other countries. Atuabo itself has a long history (prior plans, contractors, delays) and has attracted many different actors over the years — Zotus’s claim is one of several and should be independently confirmed against Ghana government procurement/transport ministry records. zotusgroup.com+1

What’s unclear / reasons for caution

• MOU ≠ contract ≠ construction: Public MOUs often signal intent but do not guarantee financing, land title transfers, environmental approvals, or building permits. I could not find publicly available evidence of major construction works, large contractor awards, or confirmed financing rounds tied to Zotus City. zotusgroup.com+1

• Company scale vs. project scale: The UK company filings show a small/dormant company — that doesn’t prove inability, but it flags the need to check who the actual project sponsors, investors, or special-purpose vehicles (SPVs) are. Large mega-projects usually show several institutional partners and concrete financing documentation. Endole

• Most coverage is PR / social media: A lot of the “news” is company press releases or repackaged press releases (and social media posts). Independent investigative pieces or government gazette notices are limited or not publicly available yet. Empower Africa+1

This company is really too ambiguous and it’s not clear. it’s a mixture of different things, investors, developers, promoters etc. All this is confusing. I can’t help but get concerned if they’re really capable of pulling such a project if they’re green lit. What’s worse is if Batswana’s pensions are also used to fund such a project.

However some things need to be put in place to make sure this project does things properly.

High-priority due diligence checklist (must-have before any commitment)

Ask Zotus (and any government office considering them) to produce these documents — and verify them independently:

1. Signed MOU / Agreement (full text, not just PR) — include page(s) showing signatories, dates, scope, and explicit next steps.

2. Land title / land allocation proof — official land registry extracts or ministerial gazette showing land allocated (with coordinates).

3. Environmental & social impact assessments (ESIA) — full reports plus approvals (if required) from Botswana authorities.

4. Proof of committed financing — executed term-sheets, escrow agreements, bank comfort letters from named banks, or signed subscription agreements showing real committed capital.

5. SPV / project company structure & audited accounts — corporate registry filings for the special purpose vehicles that will own the project, directors, shareholders, audited financials.

6. List of investors / limited partners (LPs) and amounts committed — names and contactable references of institutional investors.

7. Procurement & contracting records — names of awarded EPC/contractors, procurement process documentation, tender evaluations.

8. Legal opinions & government approvals — independent counsel opinions on land, taxation, concession terms, and any parliamentary approvals required.

9. Implementation schedule & escrowed/project bank account — where funds will sit and who signs off on drawdowns.

10. Exit / revenue model & independent cash-flow model — third-party financial model, assumptions, and sensitivity analysis (with the model available for independent review).

Red flags (stop/escalate if we see these)

• Only press releases or social posts, but no signed documents or the documents provided are non-binding MOUs.

• The company claims to have major investors but no named or contactable LPs.

• “Confidential” financing papers that prevent independent verification.

• Key ownership entities dissolved or obscure shell companies with opaque ownership.

• Requests to route public pension or sovereign funds into private placement without full parliamentary or trustee approval and independent valuation.

• Unusual urgency or pressure to sign early (e.g., “first-come” investor slots).

• No independent, reputable international advisors (big law firms, global engineering firms, reputable banks) have been shown on the deal, or those advisors disclaim involvement.

Who to contact/notify in Botswana (and why)

• Botswana Investment and Trade Center (BITC) — investment promotion, can confirm whether the project is being facilitated through official channels. BITC Website

• Botswana Public Officers Pension Fund (BPOPF) — if pension money is mentioned or targeted, trustees must be informed and must demand full due diligence (annual reports & AUM shown publicly). BPOPF is the largest public fund in Botswana. bpopf.co.bw+1

• Pula Fund / Treasury (sovereign fund oversight) — if sovereign wealth involvement is implied. The Pula Fund is Botswana’s SWF. Investopedia

• Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) (formerly PPADB) — to check procurement rules, any public tender related to the project, and whether procurement/asset disposal process is being followed. PPADB+1

• Ministry of Lands / Land Registry — to verify land allocation and title. (BITC can help point you to the right land office contact.) BITC Website

• Attorney General / Ministry of Finance — for tax, concession terms, guarantees, and whether government guarantees are being considered.

• Independent technical advisor (procurement) — an international engineering or consulting firm to verify the ESIA and technical feasibility.

Recommended process for government/trustees (to protect public/pension money)

1. No commitment without independent due diligence by an internationally reputable firm (legal, technical, financial).

2. Parliamentary oversight / public disclosure if public funds or guarantees are involved — full documentation tabled in parliament and minutes recorded.

3. Trustee approval for pension funds: Trustees must see full transaction documents, an independent valuation, and a legal opinion before any investment. Pension investments should meet fiduciary duty and risk limits.

4. Use of escrow / staged drawdowns only after milestones verified by an independent engineer/quantity surveyor.

5. No guarantees / contingent liabilities allowed without full legal review and explicit parliamentary authorization.

6. Open tender for EPC contracts — no single-source awards without transparent justification and competition.

7. Require reputation checks / KYC on all beneficial owners of investor entities and SPVs.

Practical next steps I can do for you right now (pick any)

I can run any (or several) of these now and bring back sources/documents:

• Fetch the exact Zotus–Botswana MOU (full text) and related press release.

• Pull Companies House filings for Zotus Group International Ltd and related companies (confirmation statements, accounts, PSC register).

• Search for any government gazette notices / land allocation records mentioning Zotus City / Kalahari City.

• Check which banks or investors have publicly committed to Zotus City (term sheets, investor announcements).

• Look for contractor / EPC award notices or permits for construction.

• Compile a list of independent advisor names (big-law, Big Four, respected engineering firms) that Zotus claims to work with — then verify whether those firms confirm involvement.

I hope that if this project is handed over to them, all things turn out well; otherwise, things can turn really ugly for our beloved country.

Key sources