12 Jul 2021

The Administration of Justice has reportedly assigned two judges to deal with cases of corruption.

Giving a keynote address at the commemoration of the 5th edition of the African Anti-Corruption Day in Jwaneng on Sunday, Chief Justice Terrence Rannowane said since the judiciary was an important stakeholder in combating corruption, it deemed it necessary to have two judges in Gaborone and Francistown to deal with corruption cases.

He further said all chief and regional magistrates may also deal with corruption cases.

Meanwhile, he said the African Anti-corruption Day was a result of a decision to draft a regional convention on corruption during the 34th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State  and

Government of the then Organization of African Unity, held in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, in 1998.

Justice Rannowane explained that in 2003, the African Union Convention on Prevention and Combating of Corruption (AUCPCC) then marked July 11 as the official day to commemorate the African Anti-Corruption day.

He said the convention came into effect against the backdrop of the information that the cost of corruption on African countries was estimated at $148 billion annually.  

He stated that African states, which were party to this convention, were obligated to incorporate the provisions of the convention into their national law which Botswana acceded to on May 14, 2014.

The director general of the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC), Mr Tymon Katlholo said Botswana played an important role in the drafting and subsequent adoption of the AUCPCC.

He said the country thus attached a lot of importance to the aspirations of the convention, as reflected by its views and approaches in the fight against corruption. Botswana has significantly criminalised most, if not all conduct constituting corruption under the protocol and the convention, Mr Katlholo indicated.

He further said Botswana continued to strengthen institutions mandated to fight corruption in line with the dictates and aspirations of the AUCPCC.

He said in commemorating the day, DCEC decided to target important role players in the economy as host, hence Jwaneng was chosen as it occupied a very important seat in the economy.

Mr Katlholo said an executive meeting to review the DCEC strategic plan was also held in Jwaneng last month. He revealed that the Debswana Jwaneng Mine executive committee was part of the review meeting, while the leadership of Jwaneng Town Council formed part of the proceedings of the commemoration.

When delivering a statement on behalf of the chairperson of the AU Advisory Board on Corruption, MP for Jwaneng/Mabutsane, Mr Mephato Reatile called on all stakeholders to raise awareness on the negative impact of corruption in communities and to also commit to an accountable and transparent lifestyle.

This year’s African Anti-Corruption Day was commemorated under the theme; Regional Economic Communities: Critical Actors in the Implementation of the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption. ENDS