08 Dec 2024

If Botswana has to uproot corruption, each and every member of the society needs to play a part in fighting the rot.

 Minister for State President, Mr Moeti Mohwasa, who was giving remarks during the commemoration of the International anti-corruption day on Friday, said the impact of corruption denied citizens the opportunity to benefit from national resources.

“Kgang ya go lwantsha tshenyetso setshaba ga se ya lephata fela , ke ya mongwe le mongwe ka gore tshenyetso setshaba e ntsha madi kana dithuso tse di kabong di akolwa ke batho botlhe e di tsenya mo dipateng tsa batho ba le bangwe fela go bo feletsa go nna le lehuma mo bathong ba Botswana”, he said meaning that corruption feeds a few and impoverishes the majority. Minister Mohwasa said it was imperative for Botswana to evaluate the impact that Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC) had made since its establishment 30 years ago because DCEC was established due to scandals that occurred then.

The evaluation, he said, would outline achievements, challenges and map a way forward, in view of the level of corruption then and now. He opined that Botswana should strive to transform institutions such as DCEC so that they could serve Batswana diligently.

Earlier on in her remarks, the DCEC director general , Ms Botlhale Makgekgenene said although the institution had been resolute in curbing corruption and economic crime, the uncomfortable truth is that corruption was resilient.

She highlighted that some industries such as public procurement were prone to corruption. Another industry that she said was plagued by corruption was construction, adding that the diminishing residential land in urban and semi-urban areas had triggered a surge in corruption in the land sector. About challenges bedevilling her institution's operations she said there was lack of localised tools to measure corruption and its impact, adding that such deficiency made monitoring and evaluation hard to execute.

While investigating corruption could be a daunting task, she said it was further aggravated by resource constraints, which she said led to justice delayed and sometimes justice denied.

 Despite the challenges , Ms Makgekgenene said the DCEC was up for the challenges that lay ahead and intended to deliver on tangible outcomes with renewed vigour and innovative strategies.

“We have been working on improving our approach and framework for tackling corruption and money laundering activities and ensuring that proceeds of crime are fortified to the state“, she said.

 To further improve, she indicated that DCEC would leverage on technology to enhance ability to detect and eliminate corrupt practices.

Ms Makgekgenene urged the public to rely on transparency and integrity as the moral guide or compass, adding that the presence of President Advocate Duma Boko at the commemoration signified government's support and commitment.

“This has reignited our spark as an institution and put back a very necessary bounce in our step,” she said. The day, which was commemorated under the theme; Uniting With Youth Against Corruption: Shaping Tomorrow's Integrity, highlighted the need to engage the youth on issues of corruption and Ms Makgekgenene affirmed that DCEC viewed youth as its partners. Ends