07 Nov 2023

Good governance is an antidote to corruption, President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi has said.

Delivering the State-of-the-Nation Address on Monday, Dr Masisi said government was working hard to enhance its systems by accentuating ethical conduct in order to promote, facilitate and strengthen good governance in the country. In this regard, the Whistleblowing Act of 2016 was being reviewed to address gaps in the legislation in line with international best practice.

The primary aim was to bring the Act in alignment with global standards and improve the overall disclosure, reporting, and investigation procedures.

He said the Transparency International Corruption Perception Index of 2022 scored Botswana at 6.0 from 5.5 in 2021 and number 35 out of 180 countries as well  as the third least corrupt country in Africa after Seychelles and Cape Verde respectively.

Furthermore, he said government was reviewing the Bogosi Act of 2008 in order to further strengthen efficiencies in the Bogosi institution.

Bogosi is a critical community and governance structure that is intended to unlock and leverage community leadership and strengthen social cohesion, he noted.

The Bill is expected to be presented during the July 2024 session of Parliament.

The President said as part of improving and engendering the requisite efficiency in the public sector, and in line with the Reset and Reclaim Agenda, government was committed to the rationalisation of state owned enterprises.

He said in an endeavour to improve corporate governance among state owned enterprises, a corporate governance code, ownership policy, guidelines for appointment of board members and guidelines for establishment of new parastatals, had been developed and were expected to be in operation in the next financial year.

Furthermore, Dr Masisi paid tribute to law enforcement officers who make the country safe.

“We are witnessing improvement in the general safety of our country because of their dedication,” he noted.

He said the new law enforcement technologies, such as specialised equipment, and vehicles had been deployed to augment conventional crime-fighting efforts and keep the police ahead of crime.

However, he said, it was regrettable that the country had experienced a wave of violent, intrusive and gruesome crimes in recent years resulting in the need for more urgent interventions.

He said the Botswana Police Service recruited 1 000 trainees who completed their training in March  and an additional cohort of 1 000 recruits were currently undergoing training and were expected to graduate in April 2024.

“This increase, in human resources will provide for the introduction of City Policing Units in Gaborone and Francistown, fully fledged KgomoKhumo policing, 28 police station across the station,” he stated.

He said to continue  protecting its territorial integrity and security, government had taken a decision to acquire land along the country’s borders.

He added that to further enhance public safety and security, the country had embarked on an exercise to amend several laws among others, the Penal Code to among others increase penalties for offences against morality such as rape, defilement and abduction, as well as review bail conditions to strike a balance between the rights of the accused, the victim and the witness.

He said this would address the widespread public concern and outcry that accused persons were granted bail with relative ease. ENDS