Africa-Press – Botswana. Africa loses an estimated P1.728 trillion (US$128 billion) annually to corruption, an amount equivalent to 50 per cent of the continent’s tax revenue and 25 per cent of its GDP, says Gaborone Mayor Mr Oarabile Motlaleng.
Delivering the keynote address during commemoration of Africa Anti-Corruption Day in Gaborone on Friday, the mayor said corruption was a barrier to fair access to education, healthcare, justice and job opportunities.
“Corruption perpetuates poverty, fuels inequality, and erodes public trust,” said Mr Motlaleng. He urged that anti-corruption strategies must not only focus on preventing financial loss or recovering stolen public funds but also ensure that Africans lived within a fair and just system.
“Promoting human dignity also requires whistleblower protection, safeguarding citizens and ensuring equitable access to public resources,” he added.
The mayor applauded the progress African countries had made since the adoption of the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption (AUCPCC) in 2003, including legislative reforms, the establishment of anti-corruption agencies, and increased transparency in governance.
“These efforts have yielded positive outcomes in many member states, improved living conditions, sustainable livelihoods, better access to rights, and the protection of human dignity,” he noted.
However, he cautioned that serious challenges remain.
“Corruption persists and continues to adapt with the times. It exploits the vulnerable and deepens cracks in our social fabric,” he warned.
For her part, Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC) director general, Ms Botlhale Makgekgenene emphasised the organisation’s continued commitment to holding perpetrators accountable through fair investigations, robust public education initiatives, and the principles of natural justice.
She also called on members of the public to actively support the directorate by reporting suspicious activities, demanding accountability from public servants, and embracing dignity in everyday decisions.
“We cannot win the battle against corruption as the DCEC alone. It is a societal challenge, one that thrives in secrecy, silence, and neglect,” she concluded.
This year’s commemoration was held under the theme: Promoting Human Dignity in the Fight Against Corruption.
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