18 Nov 2019

Ministry of Finance and Economic Development (MFED) has been commemorating anti-corruption day since 2014 and this year was no different.

The ministry’s corruption prevention committees (CPCs) and other employees converged in Maun recently to commemorate the annual event.

Acting deputy permanent secretary, Ms Nthoyapelo Motshwane said the intention was not only to sensitise staff and stakeholders on the negative social, developmental and economic effects of corruption but also to demonstrate that the ministry subscribed to the national position of zero tolerance for corruption.

She said the ministry placed matters of combating corruption in the highest regard.

Ms Motshwane said the ministry had a fully-fledged anti-corruption unit whose mandate was to educate and sensitise staff on the negative effects of corruption.

The unit, she said was also charged with the responsibilities of conducting preliminary investigations on corruption allegations with the possibility of referring such to law enforcement agencies such the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC).

“From time to time we should congregate as we are here today with the quest to reflect, discuss and come up with ways of preventing corruption in the work place,” she said.

Ms Motshwane appreciated the ministry’s cordial relationship with the DCEC with regards to activities on preventing corruption adding that through their guidance, they had been able to put together, an effective Ministerial Corruption Prevention Committee (MCPC).

The committee is charged with among others, the responsibility of developing annual performance plans that are used as reference in the fight against corruption.

Is also advises the ministry leadership on issues related to corruption prevention in the public service.

Through the MCPC, Ms Motshwane said the ministry had achieved a lot such as the development of the anti-corruption policy guidelines, formation of 14 corruption prevention committees across all the revenue offices and the development of corruption risk management, a tool used to identify and manage the possibility of corruption activities finding their way through official processes.

Ms Motshwane said it was imperative that as the ministry responsible for all national financial dealings, they update themselves on how corruption could manifest itself globally and develop strategies to combat it. Ends