Debswana Diamond Company and the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC) have formaliseda partnership aimed at strengthening efforts to prevent corruption, promote ethical governance and protect Botswana’s diamond resources.
The two institutions signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that will enhance cooperation in areas including corruption prevention, information sharing, capacity building, integrity promotion and support for investigations where necessary.
The agreement builds on years of collaboration between Debswana and the DCEC, with both institutions saying stronger coordination is necessary to address increasingly complex corruption risks.
Debswana Managing Director Andrew Motsumi said maintaining public confidence in the diamond industry requires a strong commitment to ethical conduct, transparency and accountability.
“Integrity is not merely a compliance requirement; it is the foundation upon which trust, accountability and long-term value are built,” Motsumi said during the signing ceremony.
He said Debswana’s role as Botswana’s leading diamond producer and a major contributor to national development means the company must protect the confidence of shareholders, employees, business partners, communities and the country.
“Protecting that trust requires unwavering commitment to ethical conduct, transparency and accountability in everything we do,” he said.
Motsumi said the MoU provides a framework for strengthening Debswana’s ability to prevent, detect and respond to corruption and economic crime through enhanced cooperation with the DCEC.
The agreement includes mechanisms for sharing knowledge, improving corruption prevention measures, strengthening due diligence processes, supporting investigations where necessary and building institutional capacity to respond to emerging risks.
He said combating corruption requires more than policies and procedures, arguing that ethical behaviour must become embedded within organisational culture.
“Lasting success ultimately depends on culture. Together, we must foster workplaces where integrity is valued, accountability is embraced and ethical behaviour is recognised as everyone’s responsibility,” Motsumi said.
DCEC Director General Botlhale Makgekgenene said the agreement represents a continuation of longstanding cooperation between the two institutions in strengthening governance and protecting Botswana’s strategic resources.
She said the partnership builds on previous joint initiatives, including participation in the Diamond Security Committee, corruption prevention workshops, integrity awareness programmes, capacity-building initiatives and multi-sector governance platforms.
Makgekgenene said Botswana’s diamond industry has played a central role in financing national development through investment in infrastructure, education, healthcare and economic transformation.
“Safeguarding this national wealth therefore requires coordinated action by government, oversight institutions such as the DCEC, law enforcement agencies and the private sector, each discharging its responsibilities with integrity and accountability,” she said.
She warned that corruption risks have become increasingly sophisticated, extending beyond traditional misconduct to include procurement manipulation, illicit financial flows, conflicts of interest, complex ownership structures and technology-enabled financial crime.
Makgekgenene said institutions must therefore strengthen governance systems, identify vulnerabilities early and integrate integrity into everyday decision-making.
She emphasised that fighting corruption cannot be left to a single institution, saying meaningful progress requires cooperation between government agencies, private sector organisations, civil society and citizens.
“The fight against corruption is won long before matters reach the courtroom. It is won when institutions strengthen governance systems, identify vulnerabilities timeously, embed integrity into decision-making and eliminate opportunities for corruption before resources are placed at risk,” she said.
