Gov’t officially delinks DCEC from public service
Goitsemodimo Kaelo | Friday November 14, 2025 11:23
President Duma Boko revealed this when giving the State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, indicating the government's commitment to grant the economic crime-busting agency greater autonomy. Boko said in recognition of the need for a modern, independent anti-corruption institution, the government has prioritised the review of the Corruption and Economic Crime Act (CECA) of 2013.
'The revised Draft Bill, currently under legal vetting, proposes to grant the DCEC greater operational independence, including a redefined reporting structure and enhanced protections for the office of the Director General. The CECA Draft Bill will be tabled for approval during the current sitting of Parliament,' Boko said on Monday.
He stated that the delinking of the DCEC from mainstream public service has been initiated and submitted for inclusion under NDP12, with a projected budget of P35 million for Development, and P48 million for Recurrent.
'Once approved, this will lay a foundation for a more robust and independent Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC). Notably, Section 3 (e) of the Employment and Labour Relations Act has officially delinked the DCEC from the Public Service, and implementation is pending the conclusion of the review of the CECA,' he said, further indicating that stakeholder engagements regarding the project have already commenced.
The issue of delinking DCEC from the mainstream public service has been mooted for a while, with different stakeholders describing its lack of independence as a hindrance in the organisation’s fight against corruption.
According to a 2020/2021 report compiled by the civil society in the country to the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) and guided by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) and the Botswana Council of Non-Governmental Organisations (BOCONGO), one of the main challenges in the fight against corruption is a lack of autonomy on the part of the DCEC.
The report has also pointed out that the lack of autonomy as not only been felt by the public but the unit’s director general has also expressed his frustration with the situation, noting that while other law enforcement agencies, such as the Directorate of Intelligence Services (DIS), have their own budgets and therefore, a semblance of autonomy, the DCEC does not.
Meanwhile, President Boko said they aim to establish a top-tier Asset Declaration System to enhance systems that monitor economic crime. 'The Ethics and Integrity Directorate continues to work closely with key stakeholders to safeguard the interests of the nation. The aim is to establish a top-tier Asset Declaration System that will significantly assist in the monitoring of these interests, income, assets, and liabilities to effectively detect corruption, money laundering, and acquisition of property from proceeds of crime. Furthermore, the Directorate, in collaboration with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, is in the process of developing comprehensive guidelines on Conflict of Interest,' he said.