DCEC hamstrung by weak enforcement of audit findings
Spira Tlhankane | Wednesday March 4, 2026 06:00
Presenting his Committee of Supply speech this week in Parliament, Minister for State President, Defence and Security, Moeti Mohwasa, said that whilst Botswana continues to rank amongst Africa’s least corrupt nations, gaps remain in enforcing corrective measures identified through audits.
“Limited enforceability of audit recommendations has hindered effectiveness,” Mohwasa told Parliament. Mohwasa was quick to disclose that Botswana scored 58 out of 100 on the 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index by Transparency International, up slightly from 57 in 2024, and ranked as the 41st least corrupt amongst 182 countries. Regionally, he said it remains amongst the top performers, tied with Rwanda and trailing Seychelles and Cabo Verde.
But beneath those rankings, the DCEC’s own audits paint a more complicated picture. The directorate has conducted targeted corruption audits and risk assessments across government ministries and state-owned enterprises. These reviews exposed weaknesses in internal controls, oversight mechanisms, and fiscal management systems.
Recommendations were issued, but implementation has lagged, according to Mohwasa. “This remains a focus area, with plans to adopt policies that ensure agencies act on audit recommendations,” Mohwasa said.
The minister indicated that strengthening compliance mechanisms is now central to the anti-corruption reform agenda. Without binding follow-through, audit findings risk becoming procedural exercises rather than instruments of reform.
To bolster the fight, he said the DCEC is working with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime to finalise the Draft National Anti-Corruption Policy, a project funded 75% by UNODC and 25% by the DCEC.
“Once finalised, this policy will provide a robust framework to guide Botswana’s anti-corruption efforts and strengthen the DCEC’s capacity to deliver on its mandate,” Mohwasa said.
Mohwasa also confirmed that the Corruption and Economic Crime Act is under review to address gaps that no longer respond to the evolving nature of economic crime.
“Once the drafting and technical vetting processes are completed, the Bill will be put before Parliament for consideration. These reforms are expected to significantly strengthen Botswana’s anti-corruption legal regime and reinforce a culture of accountability and ethical conduct across both the public and private sectors,” he said.
In a significant institutional shift, the DCEC is also in the process of de-linking from the Public Service to operate as an independent anti-corruption agency.
“Once the revised CECA comes into force, the de-linking process will enable the Directorate to implement appropriate administrative, operational, and governance structures that are responsive to its specialised mandate. This will include strengthening oversight mechanisms, enhancing institutional capacity, and improving systems that support investigation, prevention, and public education initiatives,” he said. “This represents a critical step towards strengthening institutional independence and promoting public confidence in anti-corruption efforts,” Mohwasa said. Mohwasa’s revelation now shows that the credibility of Botswana’s anti-corruption drive may hinge less on global rankings and more on whether audit recommendations move from paper to practice.