Controversial “spy bill” stokes rare public debate on civic surveillance

Minister of Defence, Justice and Security, Kagiso Mmusi introduced the Criminal Procedure and Evidence (Controlled Investigations) Bill, 2022, to a special sitting of Parliament on a certificate of urgency in late January, explaining that fast-tracking the legislation was needed to adhere to the recommendations of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).

The FATF, the world’s top supranational organisation on anti-money laundering, lifted its adverse listing of Botswana last October, three years after noting the country had significant structural and legislative deficiencies required to plug the flow of dirty money into and out of its economy.