BCP demands urgent action on corruption
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Wednesday August 12, 2026 06:00
The call follows revelations emerging from the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) hearings, which the opposition party says have exposed the scale of maladministration and financial losses affecting the country.
A statement released this week by party spokesperson, Olebile Machete, states that “these findings validate what Batswana have long known; that corruption is entrenched within the government machinery'.
'This view is consistently reinforced by public surveys, which show that citizens regard the state as fundamentally compromised,” reads the statement released last week. According to the BCP, the findings reinforce long-standing concerns that corruption has become entrenched within government institutions.
The party further pointed to public surveys showing that many Batswana view the state as fundamentally compromised.
Moreover, the BCP cited official reports indicating that between 30% and 37% of public infrastructure expenditure is lost through inefficiencies. The party also referred to findings by the National Forensic Audit, conducted by Alvarez and Marsal Middle East Limited, which reportedly estimated Botswana’s losses at approximately P33 billion.
The BCP said the losses were linked to systemic weaknesses and institutional failures that create opportunities for corruption.
“This is not a mere statistic,” the party said, describing the situation as a national crisis with potential consequences for future generations.
Meanwhile, the Dumelang Saleshando-led party criticised both the previous Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) administration and the current Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) government over their handling of governance reforms.
The BCP argued that although the BDP may have presided over the alleged deterioration, the UDC government had also failed to pursue what it considers meaningful reforms.
As a result, the party accused the government of continuing to operate within what it described as a dysfunctional system that has contributed to economic uncertainty.
The BCP also raised concerns about the implementation of findings contained in the forensic audit report. It argued that political considerations should not prevent authorities from acting on recommendations aimed at addressing corruption and recovering public assets.
Furthermore, the party highlighted the need for investigations, asset recovery, implementation of recommendations, and structural reforms.
Without such measures, the BCP warned that the problems identified in the reports could persist.
The party also acknowledged the work of the PAC but expressed concern about what it described as institutional constraints affecting both the committee and Parliament. Consequently, the BCP said taxpayers should not be expected to wait indefinitely for government action on issues involving public funds and accountability.
The party warned that failure to address the concerns raised by the forensic audit could allow existing patterns of waste and maladministration to continue.
In response to the situation, the BCP said it is in the process of establishing a dedicated programme of action aimed at addressing what it described as a destructive path.
The party said the programme would seek to ensure that concrete action is taken against governance failures and corruption.