Africa-Press – Botswana. Botswana must harness the energy and innovation of its young people to build a culture of integrity, the Minister for State President, Mr Moeti Mohwasa, has said. Delivering a keynote address during the International Anti-Corruption Day Commemoration in Gaborone on December 10, Mr Mohwasa stressed the need for the country to recalibrate its anti-corruption machinery and fully integrate young people into national governance.
“Corruption has no place in our society. We are implementing reforms that will empower the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC) and other institutions to safeguard our national resources with renewed vigour,” he said.
Drawing from historical examples such as the Soweto Uprising, the Arab Spring and Kenya’s #RejectFinanceBill protests, the minister noted that organised youth movements had the power to hold governments accountable and transform societies. “Our young people are informed, engaged, and ready to make their mark,” he added.
Despite Botswana’s reputation as one of Africa’s least corrupt countries, Mr Mohwasa warned that integrity indicators were declining. He cited growing administrative lapses and weakening deterrence mechanisms as areas of concern, emphasising the importance of educating the youth about the country’s anti-corruption history including scandals and commissions of inquiry that led to the establishment of the DCEC.
Connecting the anti-corruption drive to the national development vision, he reiterated government’s transformative agenda anchored on restoring trust, revitalising the economy and building equity. These goals, he said, could not be achieved without strong integrity systems and robust public accountability. He also welcomed the participation of Commonwealth Africa Anti-Corruption Agencies in the commemoration. Mr Mohwasa said this year’s theme was timely and relevant, noting that the annual event highlighted the link between corruption, underdevelopment, insecurity and economic inequality, while reaffirming Botswana’s commitment to international efforts to curb corruption.
For her part, the Minister of Youth and Gender Affairs, Ms Lesego Chombo, reinforced the message, warning that corruption continued to weaken institutions and deprive young people of opportunities.
“Corruption denies our young people scholarships, jobs, business opportunities and land,” she said. Ms Chombo called for youth participation in governance to be institutionalised rather than symbolic, urging that young people be included in decision-making positions from community structures to parliament. She highlighted technology and innovation as critical tools for transparency, encouraging young digital creators to develop solutions that strengthen accountability. Furthermore, she urged young people to take advantage of ongoing initiatives such as youth anti-corruption clubs, leadership boot camps and creative arts platforms aimed at promoting ethics and civic values. The minister also appealed for moral responsibility, challenging youth to reject nepotism, bribery and shortcuts. “Integrity begins with small choices. You may not control those who ask for bribes, but you control your answer,” she emphasised.
Both ministers underscored Botswana’s commitment to the United Nations Convention Against Corruption, which the country acceded to in 2011. They encouraged young people to take a national integrity pledge, noting that their leadership was essential to building a fair, transparent and accountable nation.
Held under the theme: Uniting with Youth Against Corruption: Shaping Tomorrow’s Integrity, this year’s commemoration aimed to raise awareness about corruption. The event marked a departure from the traditional marches and speeches, bringing together youth groups, civil society, local stakeholders and representatives from Commonwealth Africa Anti-Corruption Agencies for a full-scale anti-corruption conference.
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