25 Aug 2014

The Industrial Court of Botswana Anti-Corruption Policy Statement has been described as a foundation for the court’s commitment to corruption prevention.

It was also aimed at addressing, with particular emphasis, corrupt trends that undermined the administration of justice. Launching the document in Gaborone on August 21, Minister of Labour and Home Affairs, Mr Edwin Batshu said the policy statement was integral to the court’s vision to inculcate a zero tolerance to corruption and other forms of economic crime.

Minister Batshu noted that though Botswana was one of the least corrupt countries in Africa and continued to receive accolades for its anti-corruption initiatives, it was not to say the country was totally and entirely free from corruption.

He said corruption still threatened to destroy the moral and economic fabric of the society, adding that the achievements so far must inspire the nation to continue to maintain the policy of zero tolerance for corruption.

Mr Batshu said it was a commendable undertaking from the Industrial Court of Botswana, its leadership and employees, as they re-affirmed their commitment to zero tolerance for corruption and economic crime.

“The Industrial Court is a court of law and equity, mandated to settle trade disputes and further secure and maintain good industrial relations. The court is therefore committed to achieve its mandate timeously, fairly, impartially and in an accessible manner. It is the industrial court’s undertaking to do so in a transparent and accountable manner,” he told attendants.

Minister Batshu also said the court acknowledged that, “justice must not only be done, it must be seen to be done,” and further that, “everything secret degenerates, even the administration of justice.”

He further asserted that it was the duty of the court to ensure and assure all employers, all employees and the public at large that not only do they deliver justice, but justice free of any encumbrances.

Once that duty was fulfilled, he said, the court’s staff is certain of the public’s confidence in the court’s administration of justice. Further, Mr Batshu encouraged the court’s management and staff to be the torchbearers, and to observe and live by good and ethical foundations.

In addition, he called upon them to be motivated to be pro-active and be quick to respond against corrupt practices through optimal utilisation of corruption prevention monitoring systems provided to them under the policy and the corruption prevention plan.

Minister Batshu, however, noted that the policy statement will therefore, serve as a guiding tool to the industrial court, its stakeholders, and the public at large, on procedural and structural measures adopted by the court to counter corrupt activities.

Giving a welcome address, Judge President of Industrial Court, Mr Goemekgabo Tebogo-Maruping hailed the presence of the minister as he said this showed political will and support towards the fight against corruption.

Justice Tebogo-Maruping also hailed the staff and senior officers from the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC) as they were going to give them support in the implementation of the policy so that they could live their values of accountability and transparency. Ends