Africa-Press – Botswana. There is urgent need for review of Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC) Act to inject provisions of security of tenure of its leaders, says Francistown High Court’s Justice Lot Moroka.
He expressed this during a panel discussion session held alongside the Commonwealth Africa Corruption Centre (CAACC) 10+1 Anniversary held in Tlokweng recently.
Justice Moroka said the DCEC should remember that they were tasked with the power to investigate even those at the helm of the law despite the powers vested upon them.
“In Botswana we say nobody is above the law, and therefore we are a government of men of flesh and blood susceptible to committing corruption, even economic crime,” he said.
He said members of the society were critical partners in the fight against corruption and economic crime.Justice Moroka said society formed the first and fundamental partner in the fight against corruption, adding that second to the society would be the private sector. He said third to follow would be the intelligence agencies due to their role in the fight against corruption and economic crime, adding that the essence of partnerships should be understood as collaborative efforts by the listed agencies involved in the fight against corruption.
“Successful prosecution of corruption is a result of successful presentation of evidence before court and not successful presentation of intelligent information before court,” he said.
Therefore, Justice Moroka said intelligent information must translate into evidence, citing that various jurisdictions had a tendency for intelligence to lead.
He said for partners to coexist they must first exist as individual components that form the relationship toward ending corruption and economic crime.
Notably, he said an anti-corruption agency as a key partner in the fight against corruption and economic crime was the oversight institution, which had basic characteristics that defined its existence.
In the context of Botswana, Justice Moroka said the oversight institution would be the DCEC, adding that a key partner in the capacity of DCEC should exhibit independence and autonomy.
He mentioned that the second characteristic would be the security of tenure which determines how easy and quick the head of the oversight institution can be dismissed from his role.
As such he said, compromised security of tenure for head of the agency would lead to poor performance in the fight against corruption and economic crime.
He said constitutionally an anti-corruption agency was a watchdog. He said as the second decade of the existence of the centre began there was need for key stakeholders to introspect and determine how best to strengthen their capacity.
The discussion was themed, Strengthening Partnership Opportunities to Enhance Capacity Building for the Next 10 Years.
For More News And Analysis About Botswana Follow Africa-Press
