27 Mar 2013

Boteti North MP, Mr Slumber Tsogwane says a contextual definition of corruption must be found to embrace every activity relating to corrupt practices found in Botswana.

Debating the Corruption and Economic Crime (Amendment) Bill on Tuesday, the legislator said corruption was not easy to control without an all-embracing law. 

The MP expressed concern that some activities involving corruption were not captured under the current Act. “We should re-look at the definition of corruption and apply a contextual definition which will embrace all activities that might involve corrupt practices,” said Mr Tsogwane.

Mr Tsogwane, who supported the proposed amendments to the Act, advised that the amended Act should regulate disclosure of information on cases investigated by DCEC to maintain their confidentiality.

The Bill was also welcomed by the MP for Selebi Phikwe West, Mr Gilson Saleshando, who said corruption incidents in government departments and ministries had skyrocketed. 

The legislator alleged that employment and transfers of officers within the civil service was in some cases done on a corrupt basis. He said he  hoped the revised Act would be able to root out corruption in government departments and parastatals.

MP Saleshando also said officers employed by DCEC should be allowed to unionise, and was against the director general of DCEC being appointed by the President.  He said that role must be left to Parliament or another body.

The Bill was tabled for second reading on Monday by the Minister of Education and Skills Development, Dr Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi, on behalf of the Minister for Presidential Affairs and Public Administration, Mr Mokgweetsi Masisi.

It sought to amend the Corruption and Economic Act of 1994 by closing all loopholes, which will make the Act capable of combating all sorts of corruption and economic crime. ENDS