11 Dec 2023

Corruption affects all aspects of the society, therefore it is vital for everyone to be dedicated to confronting and eliminating it.

Speaking during commemoration of International Anti-corruption Day themed; Uniting the world Against Corruption in Kanye, on Friday, Minister for State President, Mr Kabo Morwaeng said the primary purpose of the day was to promote awareness for a free corruption society.

“Corruption is an enemy that has to be eradicated and everyone has to be involved,” he added, saying such was necessary despite Botswana being rated the second least corrupt country in Africa.

He highlighted that estimates indicated that Africa lost more than US$50 billion a year to illicit financial flaws.

“A lot of money is lost through corruption, funds that could be used to develop nations. Government cannot win the fight alone, everyone has to play their part,” he said.

He underscored that sub-Saharan Africa was highly affected by corruption, even though the countries continued to struggle to recover from COVID-19 and increased cost of living.

However, he said Botswana performed better in the region due to robust democratic systems, in which the legislative and policy frameworks were continually improved.

Corruption, he said, undermined the rule of law and weakened government institutions, which in turn compromised good governance, adding that the results could be civil war, state capture and lawlessness.

He said President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi’s Reset Agenda was crucial in fighting corruption, noting that the mindset change encouraged Batswana to think and do things differently, both socially and economically.

Mr Morwaeng said it was important that Batswana understood corruption in order to successfully partake in fighting it.

“We should not view corruption as part of our lives, it is evil that has to be removed from our society,” he added.

United Nations Resident Coordinator, Mr Zia Choudhury defined corruption as being dishonest and stealing.

He said Batswana should work hard to ensure that corruption was not normalised in the country.

“Corruption is normalised in many countries, for example paying bribes. Batswana have to be proud that it is not normalised here,” he said.

He highlighted the need to promote integrity, accountability and transparency in order to successfully fight corruption.

“We should all work together to shun corruptn practices,” he said.

For his part, Kgosi Malope II of Bangwaketse said it was everyone’s responsibility as citizens to ensure that DCEC successfully delivered on its mandate.

The theme of the day, he said indicated that unity had to prevail in the world against corruption.

“We should all unite and work towards eradicating corruption, that is how we can uproot it,” he said.

The DCEC director general, Ms Botlhale Makgekgenene underscored that corruption impacted negatively on the development of the country, noting that the fight against corruption therefore needed everyone’s effort to be won.

She implored all to embrace mindset change, adding that with positive mindsets, the fight against corruption could be successful.

Ms Makgekgenene said her organisation was in the process of strengthening corruption laws, further highlighting that they had strategic partners, locally and internationally that they worked with to fight corruption.

The event started with a ‘race against corruption’. ENDS