Corruption: An Issue the New Government Can Tackle or A Long-Term Concept?

Botswana has for many years failed to deal with corruption. Curbing corruption has been a promise every one of our political leaders has made when running for office, and they have failed dismally. A report by Transparency International shows that Botswana’s Corruption Perception Index has dropped to a dismaying 57/100 compared to last year’s 59/100. This clearly should be a wake-up call. The Umbrella for Democratic Change Government, before assuming office, promised to eliminate corruption as one of their key promises. The biggest question from the voter ought to be how and when?

Upon assuming office, President Advocate Duma Boko promised to bring a forensic audit that will establish where state resources have been used, and in the instance that there were any corrupt practices, efforts would be made to have the resources back. The forensic audit would be conducted in all state-owned enterprises (SEOs), as the Vice-President Ndaba Gaolatlhe, who is also the Minister of Finance, pointed out in the recent budget speech. However, since the mention of this audit by the Vice-President, we have had little to no mention about it, and this obviously brings about uncertainty to the ordinary citizen. If the government is to be trusted, they should be honest and transparent with their decisions and plans. We should have been made aware of the progress of this forensic audit, especially in relation to when it will begin and who will conduct it. These steps would be critical to gain the trust of the voters who, for a very long time, have found it difficult to trust the government.

On 6 December 2024, President Advocate Duma Gideon Boko officiated the commemoration of the International Anti-Corruption Day at Selebi-Phikwe. During his address, he stated that if we are to eliminate corruption, we must “re-imagine” our laws and our institutions. This means that the government plans to alter the structures of our institutions and amend our laws to make it difficult to have corrupt practices. Speaking of re-imagining our institutions, one institution that has always been criticized and whose corrupt practices have, time and again, been alleged is the Directorate on Intelligence and Security Services (DISS). It is ironic that the current Umbrella for Democratic Change Government, who, before assuming power, had always criticized the DIS, are doing nothing to restructure it. The incumbent President has on many occasions referred to the DISS as a rogue institution and has on several occasions threatened to dismantle it if he became President. Having assumed office for 4 months, the government has done nothing to deal with the claims that they themselves made. The current government seems to be continuing with the actions of their predecessors, whose doings led to their election defeat at an unexpected time. To give an example, the UDC has always been against the role/position of the Chief of Staff, whose direct appointment is made by the President. They have always argued that the role of the Chief of Staff is unclear, and there are other government officials, for example, Permanent Secretaries, who do the same duties. To my dismay, President Boko appointed Dr. Oupa Tsheko as the Chief of Staff after assuming office. How different is this appointment from the one they criticized made by former President Masisi? Arguments that the Umbrella for Democratic Change Government is slow to take action because they are still new in office do not suffice anymore because there is no justification to carry out practices that they have always criticized.

It is also very unfortunate and disheartening that there are claims by Member of Parliament for Lobatse, Kamal Jacobs, that he received threats from the President after posing a question to parliament about Dr. Tsheko’s appointment. If these claims are true, Batswana will definitely be “re-structuring” their government in the coming elections because they would have gone against the promise of upholding human rights that they have always spoken to.

On the brighter side, allegations of corruption at the Citizen Entrepreneurship Development Agency (CEDA) have seen the Minister of Trade and Entrepreneurship, Honourable Tiroyaone Ntsima, suspend CEDA CEO Thabo Thamane pending investigations. This at least shows that the government can act where necessary. However, the developments in the investigations are not being shared with the public, which brings us back to the biggest issue of trusting the government. We have also seen former Permanent Secretary to the President, Carter Morupisi, being sent to prison on corruption charges after months in and out of court. This is one of the very few cases where we see prominent figures being prosecuted and sentenced for their wrongdoings. The citizens will remain hopeful that this goes on to curb corruption.

Taking everything into account, the Umbrella for Democratic Change Government has done very little to live up to its promise of eliminating corruption. They have given the people high expectations, yet they don’t seem to be ready to deliver. Although corruption seems like it will still be a part of our livelihoods as citizens, Batswana will remain hopeful that the government will remember their promises and act in line with them. Should this not happen, the voters have realized that it is easy to make a decision at the ballot box.