28 Aug 2018

Awareness and training on anti-corruption is critical to the effectiveness of corruption prevention strategies, says senior assistant director general at the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime, Mr Dominic Khame.

 Addressing a business community workshop in Mahalapye recently, Mr Khame said it was important that individuals possess basic awareness and understanding of corruption in order to prevent and fight it.

“Both individual and organisation integrity must be promoted and nurtured to ensure that business is carried out in a transparent, accountable and ethical manner,” Mr Khame said. He said the forum provided an opportunity to learn from each other’s successes and failures, and to pave a way forward in contributing positively to the economy.

“The aim of all businesses is profit maximisation, therefore ensure that all profits are made in a legal and ethical manner,” he said. Mr Khame emphasised that the business community played a critical role in the fight against corruption and economic crime. “You can make or break the economy,” he said. He urged the business community to be exemplary by reporting corruption.

“As businesses, there are benefits to acting ethically while on the other hand unscrupulous business dealings will put you on the wrong side of the law,” he said. The workshop advocated for strengthening transparency, which he said was the vital foundation for a corruption free business environment.

“The workshop has come at an opportune time for us to introspect and map a way forward regarding the adoption of sound and ethical business practices,” Mr Khame said.

 Meanwhile, the chairperson of Business Botswana, Mahalapye region, Mr Edward Mazunga praised the workshop as a platform to collaborate and network in fighting corruption and economic crime.

He said the DCEC, through its strategic vision, sought to rally the nation towards a corruption free society. Mr Mazunga noted that the private sector continued to be riddled with the undesirable reality of facilitating businesses through corrupt means, including but not limited to bribery and undue influence to acquire tenders and provision of substandard goods and services. He said all the above immoral practices go against the principles of integrity, corporate governance, legal requirements and good corporate citizenry.

 Mr Mazunga said it was crucial for the private sector to deliberate soberly on the grave realities of corruption, fraud and anti-competitive realities, and to device appropriate strategic interventions to redefine their image and restore public confidence. Mr Mazunga also said the private sector had proved to be the engine of economic growth as it had the potential to create employment and entrepreneurial opportunities as well as strengthen community development efforts. He said the DCEC was committed to assisting all stakeholders in fighting corruption and economic crime. Mr Mazunga challenged the business community to cultivate and uphold good business ethics that promoted corporate governance and business integrity.

“Victory against corruption is not only possible, but also a reality,” he said. ENDS