10 Jun 2026

Government recognises the Financial Intelligence Agency (FIA) as a strategic institution in promoting financial stability, investor confidence and economic development.

Speaking at the commemoration of the International Financial Intelligence Unit Day, Vice President Ndaba Gaolathe emphasised government’s commitment to ensuring that FIA possesses the legal authority, operational independence and resources required to fulfil its mandate effectively and in accordance with international standards.

 Mr Gaolathe indicated that financial integrity was strengthened when vigilance became a shared responsibility and compliance and accountability became a culture and a national value, respectively.

“Financial integrity is ultimately about people; it is about protecting livelihoods. It is about protecting opportunity and about ensuring that the wealth generated within our economy serves legitimate aspirations rather than criminal interests,” he said.

He stated that government was seeking to build a country that must be characterised by fairness, transparency, accountability and trust.

The values, he said were foundational as they shaped the quality of governance and influenced economic outcomes, thus determining how future generations would judge the current stewardship.

Mr Gaolathe noted that it was hence important to build a Botswana that remained a beacon of integrity, a paragon of fairness and a model of shared prosperity.

As Botswana prepares for its Third Mutual Evaluation in 2027, a process which would assess the effectiveness of the country’s systems, its institutions and its response to financial crime risks, Mr Gaolathe said the success would depend on sustained collaboration, institutional discipline and demonstrable results.

“It will depend on our collective commitment to ensuring that intelligence continues to deliver impact across every part of our national response to financial crime,” he said.

He thus encouraged all institutions to continue working closely with FIA in an effort to strengthen the national response to financial crime.

With the day also marking an important milestone with the launch of the FIA Strategic Plan, its new corporate identity and enhanced digital platforms, the Vice President said the initiatives reflected an institution preparing itself for the future.

Mr Gaolathe stated that resilience required continuous improvement, investment in capability and a willingness to embrace change.

Therefore, he commended FIA for embracing the journey of transformation and for positioning itself to meet the challenges of an increasingly complex financial environment. ENDS