09 Mar 2020

The results of a forensic audit conducted at Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency (CEDA) and completed in January 2012 established that there were no merits to the complaints that were raised by the public at the time.

The Assistant Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr Karabo Gare told Parliament recently that however, there were certain administrative improvements that could be made which were consistent with normal business practices.

Mr Gare said the results of the forensic audit were communicated to the CEDA Board of Directors and the Directorate of Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC).

He explained that the CEDA Board of Directors was tasked with addressing administrative issues raised in the report. The board implemented recommendations of the audit and continues to monitor the issues raised in the report to ensure non-occurrence.

He further said issues reported to the DCEC were investigated, however, none were sustained and therefore the investigations on the matter were concluded.

The DCEC however, recommended that the agency should put in place policies for whistle blowing and corruption prevention. The DCEC also seconded an officer to CEDA in January 2013 for a period of three months to assist in implementing the recommendations of the audit report.

The assistant minister said the scope of the work of the seconded officer covered setting up structures within CEDA to educate staff regarding conduct, association and perceptions that might be created by such conduct.

It also included reviewing CEDA processes and a need basis to address the ever changing business environment to prevent fraud, forgery and related criminal activities that might be executed by either the public or staff of CEDA.

The officer was also to assist the office of the CEO and the board of directors to investigate any suspicious activities whether reported or not and advise the same to the relevant statutory authorities.

The scope also covered carrying out lifestyle audits of staff and disseminate such to the relevant statutory authorities, he added.

Mr Gare further said the agency continued to work closely with the DCEC to ensure strict compliance to the implemented policies and processes.

“The forensic audits are special audits which are undertaken to uncover or confirm various types of illegal activities,” he said.

He further explained that, they were conducted instead of a regular audit in case the information gathered would be used in a court of law, noting that they were not for the public.

Since the conclusion of the 2012 forensic audit, he said, there had not been any incident that necessitated an audit of that kind to be carried out in CEDA.

The assistant minister was responding to a question from Member of Parliament for Gaborone Bonnington South, Mr Christian Greef who wanted to know if a forensic audit was conducted at CEDA, covering 2003 up to 2018.

Mr Greef also asked if the results could be made public and if not, the minister should state if a fresh audit would be conducted and results made public. ENDS