The age of accountability
Thursday, June 25, 2015
Presidential Affairs and Public Administration minister, Eric Molale will lay the Whistleblowing Bill before legislators, which if approved, marks a new chapter in accountability and transparency in Botswana.
According to its preamble, the Bill seeks “to provide for the manner in which a person may, in the public interest, disclose information adverse to the public interest”. It seeks to provide for the manner of reporting and investigations of disclosures of impropriety and the protection against victimisation of persons who make the disclosures”.
While every citizen, including the Head of State, has the right to voice opinions, the tone and context of the President’s comments were regrettably dismissive and risk chilling free expression in our country. The remarks are not isolated. They form part of a disturbing pattern of public attacks on independent institutions pillars essential to the healthy functioning of our democracy. The Judiciary, the Legislature, and now the media have all...