21 Jul 2016

Parliament has concluded debate on the Whistleblowing Bill, thereby passing it to the committee stage.

The Whistleblowing Bill provided for the manner in which a person may disclose conduct adverse to the public interest; to provide for the manner of reporting and investigations of disclosures of impropriety; and the protection against victimisation of persons who make the disclosures.

Responding to the debates on July 20, the Assistant Minister for Presidential Affairs and Public Administration, Mr Dikgang Makgalemele, said the clause for a whistleblower to remain anonymous would be included in the amendments.

Mr Makgalemele said the authorities listed under clause eight as institutions to which a disclosure of impropriety may be made are mandated by government to investigate any acts of crime hence they wouldn’t include some of the private institutions that MP’s suggested.

However, he said the disciplined forces such as  Department of Prisons and Botswana Defence Force who were not included in clause eight will be considered.

Institutions listed under clause eight as authorities for disclosures are the Directorate on Economic Crime, the Auditor General, Directorate of Intelligence and Security, Botswana Police Service, Ombudsman, Botswana Unified Revenue Service and the Financial Intelligence Agency.

Mr Makgalemele indicated that all employees who are covered by the Labour Act be it public servants or private sector employees were protected by the bill hence everyone had a right to report corruption at their work place.

The assistant minister indicated that a whistleblower is never a witness as alluded by some MP’s but only raises alarm then departs from the investigation.

He highlighted that the media cannot be included on the list of authorities for disclosure because government had no control over private media who are bound to get carried away and print stories about whistleblowing hence defeating the whole purpose.

Mr Makgalemele  differed with some  MP’s  who advocated for provision of incentives for whistleblowers stating that it was upon every citizen to ring an alarm on issues of corruption and crime. ENDS