For the very first time, the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC) will join the entire world on Friday to commemorate the World Anti Corruption Day.
Since the establishment of the DCEC in 1994, it has never taken part in the commemoration of this day until the 27 of June this year when the Botswana government was accepted and became a full signatory to the World Anti Corruption Convention.
Speaking to the Telegraph this week, the Public Relations Officer of DCEC, Lentswe Motshoganetsi, said, “The DCEC will for the very first time join the world to celebrate the World Anti Corruption Day which was established by the United Nations in 2003.”
He explained that “the DCEC, as the country’s anti corruption barometer, takes interest in all matters that deal with corruption”.
“Therefore, this is a day which opens discussions on corruption and its related offences; it is each and every stakeholder’s responsibility to join forces with the DCEC,” he said.
Motshoganetsi said the celebrations will give the DCEC the opportunity to look back, reflect and map a way forward on strategies in fighting the scourge of corruption.
“Botswana has repeatedly been ranked the least corrupt nation in Africa, yet countries that are ranked high in corruption have been commemorating this day without fail,” he said.
He noted that the DCEC has plans to take the commemoration of the day further and “make it an integral part of Botswana’s national calendar as one of the significant days in our country”.
He further said that it is a time that stakeholders (civil society, private sector, religious sector, youth, academics and the general public) come together to remember the presence of corruption in our society and its effects plus the need to eradicate it.
Meanwhile, about seven countries recently became full members of the convention.
Among them are India, Ireland, Iceland and Nepal.
