Limited resources and a lack of specialised professional expertise have hindered efforts by the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC) to investigate corruption and economic crimes.
This is according to the Minister of State President, Kabo Morwaeng when officially opening the senior management leadership training programme organised by the DCEC in collaboration with the Commonwealth Secretariat in Gaborone this week.
Along with the lack of specialised professionals, Morwaeng said the culture of impunity, and sometimes slow judicial processes, has had an effect on the efforts of the DCEC to match up the ever-evolving dynamics of economic crimes in Botswana.
“In this regard, the appointment of experienced, ethical and confident leaders who are committed to strict observance of transparent governance structures and processes, enhancing accountability cannot be overemphasised,” said Minister Morwaeng.
“Recruiting of diverse competent investigators, legal experts, corruption prevention and public education practitioners, crime analysts and support staff will certainly go a long way in helping root out the scourge of corruption.”
The minister said a multi-disciplinary approach is the only way to root out corruption and economic crimes.
He added that it is also of paramount importance to continually train personnel involved in the investigation of these crimes on the latest anti-corruption techniques and international best practices covering prevention and early detection.
“Key to the process is fostering collaboration with other law enforcement agencies in order to enhance effectiveness as well as share information,” said Morwaeng.
He said it is also important that the DCEC shares with the general public its activities, achievements and challenges so as to earn public trust and confidence.
“Our participation at international anti-corruption networks and initiatives does not only ensure that we share knowledge and learn from best practices but also ensure the relevance of approaches to fighting corruption,” said the minister.
The minister acknowledged trends and patterns in corruption and associated challenges.
“Corruption is a multifaceted phenomenon that transcends borders with evolving tactics and increasing complexity,” said the minister.
“Critical to our success as a nation is collaboration with our developmental partners.”
The minister appreciated the developmental partners for providing financial and technical support, especially the Commonwealth Secretariat for its capacity-building efforts.
DCEC Director General, Botlhale Makgekgenene, explained that the objective of the programme was to equip the leaders from government departments, oversight institutions and parastatals, with essential management and leadership competencies.
Secondly, she said the programme will enable the participants to identify effective strategies for strategic planning and management.
“It is also to enable us to engage in discussions on ethics and professional values focusing on enhancing skills and competency,” explained Makgekgenene.
“In a globalised world, Botswana faces increasingly complex challenges. It is, therefore, imperative that the leadership within the government and oversight institutions embrace a new mindset to effectively navigate these challenges.”
To effectively respond to these multifaceted challenges, Makgekgenene said it is important to prioritise continuous development.
