30 Jul 2024

The Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC) was established as a specialised anti-corruption agency to fight against corruption in Botswana and its operations are independent.

This was said by Minister for State President, Mr Kabo Morwaeng when debating a private member’s Bill seeking to amend the Corruption and Economic Crime Act that was presented to Parliament by Leader of Opposition, also Member of Parliament for Selebi Phikwe West, Mr Dithapelo Keorapetse on Monday.

Mr Morwaeng argued that the DCEC was autonomous just like other organisations, including the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), Attorney General, Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and Parliament, among others.  

“The fact that DCEC employees are paid by government does not reflect control by government. The DCEC was established as an independent entity and its independence is already provided for by the law. We cannot encourage having many parastatals in the country,” he said.

He added that the Act provided that the DCEC, in its work, should not be subjected to directions or control by any person or authority.

On one hand, Mr Morwaeng said government was committed in the fight against corruption in Botswana and therefore called the nation to report related incidents.

Presenting the bill, Mr Keorapetse said there was need for the DCEC to be independent from government, particularly the Office of the President so that it can investigate corruption freely and effectively.

He also highlighted the need to have in the Act, a provision to guarantee the DCEC’s director general security of tenure like it was the case with other officers such as the IEC secretary.

“This will ensure that the director general exercises their right without fear of being fired any minute, and this will also make them free to exercise their mandate without fear or favour. The current lack of security of tenure for the director general is the reason why the DCEC is currently in its fifth officer in a short time,” he said.

He said past research had shown that Batswana were eager for the independence of the DCEC and that the terms of service of its staff should be separate from the rest of the civil service.

“Botswana has lost its place as the least corrupt country in Africa and this can be addressed by granting DCEC independence to freely fight corruption,” he added.

He proposed that a board be appointed, which should consist among members, representatives of the Law Society of Botswana, Non-governmental Organisations, relevant research institutions and a chairperson who should be a former judge, to run the DCEC.

MP for Tonota, who is also Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, Mr Pono Moatlhodi argued that DCEC had served Batswana well in its 30 years of existence, and therefore there was no need to tamper with the current Act.

MP for Ngami, Mr Caterpillar Hikuama said corruption impeded economic development, hence the need to have the entity independent.“Let us ensure that organs that are supposed to be independent like the DCEC are truly so and not just in theory. Let us not appear to fight corruption, but truly fight it.

Signs of corruption in Botswana are clear and tangible and this calls for the true independence of the DCEC,” he said. ENDS