20 Jul 2016

The Assistant Minister for Presidential Affairs and Public Administration, Mr Dikgang Makgalemele, has yielded to suggestions from MPs to insert an anonymity clause in the Whistleblowing Bill.

Contributing to the debate on the Whistleblowing Bill 2015, Mr Makgalemele agreed that an anonymity clause would be brought in as an amendment for whistleblowers who would want to remain anonymous.

Since the debate on the bill started on July 7, MPs indicated that the bill should provide for whistleblowers to have an option to remain anonymous to rule out issues of fear that could result in reluctance.

MP for Mogoditshane, Mr Sedirwa Kgoroba, said the bill was an important development because he foresaw a situation whereby the public would not come forth with information because of fear.

He highlighted that witness protection was a key factor that should be inserted into the bill to protect those who might be summoned to turn state witnesses.

MP for Gabane/Mmankgodi, Maj. Gen. Pius Mokgware noted that the bill helped avoid instances whereby good citizens would be persecuted for reporting corruption.

He said his constituency was rife with issues of land corruption and that people were reluctant to report such crimes for fear of being dismissed.

He said the P50 000 fine for a person who victimised a whistleblower was low; hence he called on the minister to up the fee.

Maj. Gen. Mokgware said whistleblowers should be given an option of anonymity so that more people could come forward to report crime.

MP for Francistown East, Mr Buti Billy, indicated that the bill gave Batswana a responsibility to be accountable and report any crime instead of harbouring it.

He said whistleblowers should be brave because people who engaged in criminal activities were dangerous and don’t want to be exposed.

Mr Billy suggested that a whistleblowing reward fund should be set up so as to encourage people to be proactive in issues of fighting corruption.

MP for Selebi Phikwe West Mr Dithapelo Keorapetse questioned why MPs, councillors and the media were excluded from the list of authorities for disclosure.

He noted that some people in the community preferred to confide in their MPs and Parliament; hence they should be catered for.

He further stated that the BDF and military intelligence should had been also listed as part of the authorities for disclosure in clause eight.

Mr Keorapetse said the bill protected employees while they were still working for a particular organisation asking what should happen when one had left their job should a former employer take adverse steps to tarnish that person’s credibility. ENDS