23 Mar 2016

The Member of Parliament for Selebi Phikwe West, Mr Dithapelo Keorapetse says there is need to enhance the independence of the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC).

Debating the Ministry for Presidential Affairs and Public Administration 2016/17 budget proposal, Mr Keorapetse said it was important to enhance the organisation’s independence because for oversight institutions to play a proper oversight role, they need to be independent from the executive.

He said the independence of the DCEC had to be enhanced such that the director was not appointed by the President, or if so, it must be in accordance with the advice of at least an independent body such as the Judicial Service Commission.

The Selebi Phikwe MP said people often criticised the DCEC labeling it a toothless dog, saying it was not fair on the institution because it has investigated high profile individuals such as MPs, cabinet ministers, permanent secretaries and CEOs, among others, but that in terms of the law, it could not prosecute.

He further said when there was no successful prosecution, people should not criticise but encourage the officers, noting that in some instances, the DCEC success was restricted by the law.

Mr Keorapetse said second provisions of the Corruption and Economic Crime Act needed to be looked into.

He added that the country could not fight corruption without the freedom of information law and whistle blowing legislation, noting that it becomes difficult for anti-corruption agencies and even the media which was a major partner in the fight against corruption.

On another issue, Mr Keorapetse advised that there was also need to re-look into the institution’s mandate so that they only deal with corruption issues and not economic crime.

Furthermore, the MP noted that there was need to give the DCEC more resources as the organisation needed competent investigators, corruption prevention officers and competent public education officers.

He also appealed to the minister responsible to consider increasing the number of DCEC offices across the country because currently there were only three in Gaborone which was the headquarters, Francistown and Maun.

He said it would make it easy for customers to access DCEC services because as it was now, they report directly to the offices. Ends