05 Apr 2018

President Mokgweetsi Masisi has said in one of his recent interviews before assuming the presidency that he does not have a big farm, the only farm that he had was taken by the Land Board to allocate people residential plots. 

He also stated he had some few goats and sheep, but he put much of his livelihood on chickens, for both eggs and meat.

And these are, according to him, the only assets that he has and said if anyone is in doubt, they are free to verify. 

This is the man prepared to bring forward the law that would require everyone who holds public office to declare their assets. 

“I will do my utmost best to continually grow confidence in governance through a combination of new legislation, ethical codes and demonstrable and efficacious behaviours. To this end, expect specific legislation on declaration of assets and liabilities soon,” said President Masisi in his inaugural speech on April 1. 

An ever-growing number of countries have adopted ethics and anti-corruption laws that require public officials to declare their assets and income as well as the assets and income of their spouses and dependent children. 

President Masisi under, his new administration, has vowed to introduce such a law to fight corruption, which is a threat to good governance, democratic processes and fair business competition

. A number of people on the street are also in full support of the law and want it implemented as soon as possible.

In a series of interviews in Gaborone, one of the interviewees, Mr Budani Madandume of Senete said it was a good move by President Masisi’s administration to fight corruption and enhance democracy. 

He explained that the law would address issues of accountability among those who hold public office such as the President, the Vice President, and all accounting officers from both government and parastatal organisations. 

Another interviewee, Mr Dickson Wote of Goshwe in the Central District was also in support of the law, adding that a lot of people, particularly politicians should account for what they own.

He explained that Batswana needed to know what such people have and how they acquired such assets and liabilities before assuming public office.

Meanwhile, a prominent lawyer, Mr Tshiamo Rantao is of the view that although President Masisi wanted the country to have such a law, he was just making a suggestion because it was only Parliament, the law making body that had the prerogative to come up with such an Act. 

He said President Masisi could not come up with such a law because there is no statutory framework in the Constitution that provides for such. 

Mr Rantao said through such a suggestion as head of state, he was causing Parliament, particularly from members of his ruling party to table such a motion and because the intended law has his political will as head of state, it is easier for the motion to sail through.

“In the most unlikely event that the majority of parliamentarians do not agree with the President, then they will not come up with that law. 

However, the expectation is that he would caucus with them (members of his party) in order to sail through easily,” he added. 

He said the intended law was long overdue because there has not been political will from his predecessors and such a law was a welcome development in the promotion of democracy and good governance.

Another lawyer, Mr Uyapo Ndadi said the envisaged law was a welcome development that was long overdue. 

He explained that the law would go a long way in dealing with corrupt officials as Batswana would be able to know what the officials had when they assumed office and what they acquired while in office.

Mr Ndadi further explained that if the official suddenly amasses a lot, then Batswana would start asking the right questions and get them to account. 

“Public office is for service and not for enrichment,” he said, adding that government through Cabinet is empowered to make any law they deem appropriate and usually bills by government often pass. 

“If they don’t pass, then Parliament will have to dissolve.”

An asset declaration is a person’s balance sheet and should cover assets, from all homes, valuables and financial portfolios, to liabilities, such as debts and mortgages, and all sources of income from directorships and investments to consulting contracts, amongst many. ENDS