What is at stake in fighting grand corruption?

The new administration, driven by the greater societal good and weighty sense of moral balancing, must confront this malady with unflagging resolve, not Janus-faced rhetoric. How did our country, a land once celebrated as an undisputed oasis of good governance, find itself languishing in the throes of grand corruption?

Immersed in visceral bitterness and mounting impatience, after seemingly being ignored ad nauseam, the nation’s vigilant youth, perceived as the riant and emotionally high-strung drivers of change, are unwilling to moderate their expectations, and disinclined to accommodate the nascent wobbly steps of an infant government.

They are watching for the first fulgent star to fade in the political night sky, their gaze riveted on every flaw, every broken promise, every scintilla of recklessness, determined to ensure that the nation they are destined to lead avoids a descent into anarchy’s firm grip. Justifiably expecting the new administration to swiftly turn all the lofty and somewhat precipitous campaign baubles into tangible delivery. Warning; left to their druthers, our youth will eagerly take umbrage at any inkling of laxity in developing and maintaining credibility and trust in all governance structures.

The pressure to dismantle entrenched corruption networks and earn public trust is ratcheting up on the new administration. Whilst the painstaking process of forensic audits conducted by punctilious apolitical experts may be necessary, the logical starting point is to decisively aim for objective consequence management, by dusting off the files entombed in the rubble of political inertia and wilful neglect, where verifiable acts of corruption remain buried, shielded by interference, subdued by lack of executive will, and left untouched lest power be held to account. This progressive stance is aligned with the powerful view posited by Burkina Faso’s ‘illegitimate’ sovereign, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, “Leading a country is a privilege, not a business opportunity”.

The administration’s principal focus must lean towards fortifying autonomous anti-corruption institutions, pushing them to determinedly act with impeccable impartiality, command public trust, unmarred by regressive turf battles. Additionally, judicial reforms are imperative. Establishment of specialised anti-corruption courts empowered by expedited procedures, appropriately resourced with seasoned prosecutors, judges and support staff, would serve as a well-calculated moderating influence that would signal an era of resolute efficiency and mitigate the judicial bottlenecks that often subvert justice. These reforms cannot be left to the flukish whims of chance!

Lest they are dismissed as lowbrow arrivistes, the newly appointed individuals now shouldering the monumental task of steering the nation’s future, cannot afford to sleep at the wheel, led astray by the temptation to fervently luxuriate in the flashy affluence of an unmistakable vulgarian lifestyle.

Though bereft of a tried and tested conventional boilerplate to crib from, a tabula rasa approach is not recommended. Historical global triumphs and setbacks offer a trove of insights to the new administration for crafting a distinct path towards integrity and development. For instance, from the ashes of its ethnically fractious and putrid genocidal past, Rwanda, under President Paul Kagame, exemplifies a bold and progressive anti-corruption stance that effectively eroded officialdom’s impunity. Kagame's administration, though often perceived as heavy-handed and somewhat autocratic, implemented prompt and resolute measures, prioritising institutional accountability, and ethical governance as pillars of national development.

Civil servants and private sector actors implicated in graft were prosecuted, their political affiliations immaterial to the blind eyes of Lady Justice. This consistent application of justice by a fearless integrity-driven leadership reshaped public perception, fostering a culture of transparency and trust in the national consciousness. The gains have been evident in Rwanda’s meteoric ascent in global governance rankings. This illustrates the resounding impact of sturdy political will, consciously championed by the highest office in the land, and reinforced by the entire executive arm of government.

Conversely, Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), once celebrated as a bastion of anti-corruption, serves as a sobering reminder of what happens when such efforts falter. Despite initial success in recovering looted assets and prosecuting high-profile offenders, the EFCC’s credibility eroded over time due to political interference and erratic enforcement. Leadership turnover, selective justice targeting political opponents, unwarranted delays in judicial processes, and the tacit sparing of allies, mostly former governors and senators, bred public disillusionment. What began as a potent force against corruption became mired in inconsistency and favouritism.

On familiar turf, just a heartbeat away, in South Africa, like relics of an abandoned vision, the Zondo Commission’s ‘encyclopaedic’ volumes, a detailed chronicle of state capture’s masterminds, enablers and accomplices, now lie forgotten in the Union Buildings, whilst the brazen architects of corruption strut freely. Not entirely a paragon of integrity himself, Cyril Ramaphosa, who ascended to the presidency on a charming ticket of reformist fervour, finds himself shackled by the dangling tail of his self-wrought darkness, tied to his involvement in the infamous Phala Phala-gate scandal that continues to undermine his gravitas and cloud his moral authority.

These narratives are critical signposts illuminating the path forward. The insight gleaned is simply this; the first step of possessing the power to act is a no-brainer, what truly shifts the needle is an uncompromised leadership grounded on the intestinal grit to transform intention into action. Botswana’s path lies in emulating Rwanda’s tenacity, institutional fortitude and dogged commitment to impartiality, whilst vigilantly and vigorously sidestepping Nigeria’s and South Africa’s pitfalls.

Shielding anti-corruption agencies from the corrosive grip of unpalatable political manipulation and equipping them with adequate resources and the autonomy they need, is paramount to fighting the corruption curse. In our fight against corruption, our country has long been eluded by the gold standard in governance.

Over the past seven years, leadership turnover at the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime has been nothing short of tumultuous, with at least six heads, averaging nearly one per annum. This high turnover disrupted strategic continuity, undermined institutional stability, and eroded public trust in the institution’s fight against corruption. Even the heart of a blind man can see that the air hums with a cry!

But anti-corruption infrastructure alone is a long way from being a panacea. The administration must foster a public philosophy that intolerance of corruption cannot be relegated to a clichéd governance mantra but must be elevated to a consensus-driven national creed. Botswana has an opportunity to rise as an African exemplar, harnessing lessons from both triumphs and failures of other nations to forge a uniquely tailored practicable strategy that would serve as an impregnable bulwark against malfeasance.

The concept of amnesty, though controversial and potentially a bitter pill to swallow, presents a pragmatic option. It surged into the global headlines seven years ago through a bold move that offered leniency in exchange for restitution, when Saudi Arabia’s intrepid Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman demonstrated its efficacy through an orchestrated crackdown on pervasive aristocratic corruption, dauntlessly siphoning away approximately $107 billion from the financially flush balance sheets of well over 200 prominent businessmen, sitting and former ministers, and princes, including his half-brothers. The assets recovered through this anti-corruption purge included cash, real estate, companies, and other valuables.

Could Botswana tread this path safely? Yes, but to carve out a compelling and credible path forward, a trust-commanding and impact-delivering roadmap is essential. Otherwise, this process could raise more than a few eyebrows. Fuelled by the perception of a deliberately engineered equity-deficient pseudo-justice framework designed to flagrantly favour a super-affluent elite of glaringly culpable but seemingly Teflon-coated compatriots. Sound implementation would require oodles of objectivity and nigh-on perfect planning! This could ward off possibilities of protracted legal battles that often get bogged down with frustrating justice-hindering technicalities.

A transparent framework; demanding full disclosure of ill-gotten wealth, appropriate restitution, and an irrevocable commitment to future ethical conduct, is a prerequisite. Properly and impartially implemented, this move could accelerate asset recovery and trigger the replenishment of our treasury's coffers, which have been dwindling at an alarming rate. And such a measure might redirect the administration’s focus not only towards systemic reform but more importantly to other issues of national interest. A monomaniacal obsession with combating corruption, to the exclusion of all existential interests cooped up in the compartments of Batswana’s duffel bag of irksome frustrations and legitimate expectations, risks thrusting the nation headlong towards socio-political turmoil.

The new administration’s anti-corruption campaign must be anchored on a compelling thème du jour that evokes ethical governance, enlisting civil society and media, ensuring that the fight is neither confined to the government enclave nor susceptible to stagnation. Simply because inclusivity breeds trust, individual agency and collective resolve. To dispel any notion of ulterior motives or lust for vengeance, the administration must wield transparency as its sharpest weapon. Publicising anti-corruption milestones, from recovered assets to secured convictions, will instill a sense of progress and legitimacy. More critically, it will underscore that this crusade is propelled by venerable principles rather than vindictive partisanship.

This is the moment for the new administration to unfurl its banner of brilliance, and decisively turn our inkiest hour into our most radiant, perhaps motivated by Winston Churchill’s immortal words; "To each, there comes in their lifetime a special moment when they are figuratively tapped on the shoulder and offered the chance to do a very special thing...What a tragedy if that moment finds them unprepared or unqualified for that which could have been their finest hour!" DGB and his coterie of cabinet ministers and prominent technocrats must seize this moment before the window of opportunity slams shut. The lasting imprint of the UDC-led administration’s legacy will not be defined by the depths of the rot it inherited but by the valour with which it confronted this scourge.

Botswana stands at a critical Y-junction. On the left lies the darker side, a flat-laying broad highway studded with the faint glow of embedded cat's eyes of the most prominent and seemingly untouchable in society, men and women glaringly devoid of moral timbre. And on the right lies a narrow path, exuding muted allure, trodden only by a few of society’s principled high and mighty, characterised by the arduous oft-slippery ascent to integrity and renewal, rigorously patrolled by the revitalised and empowered relevant public institutions, and unambiguously guided by a well-established modus operandi for effectively combating corruption.

We all wait with rapt expectation for the new administration to change the mould, engage its anti-corruption protagonist gear, and deliver on its campaign trail promises, knowing full well that on issues of grand corruption, a half-won battle is as good as a lost war! DGB’s administration has flung open the doors to the levers of the vault housing the state’s machinery against corruption. Let the battle commence, focused, unyielding, unsullied by favouritism and the masking of true intentions. The future commands nothing less than this grand mission.

Like the thunderous swell of a cinematic overture that stirs hearts and sets imaginations ablaze, the nation’s modular, ultra-wide immersive screen is primed for an epic drama. As the high-octane movie bursts into action, the nation is catapulted into a whirlwind of super-charged suspense. Every moment crackles with seething tension. Recognising that his presidency is by no means tenured, our attention-grabbing president, an ever-uncompromising model of magniloquence, cutesy charm, sartorial and tonsorial elegance, purposefully strides forward as the resolute protagonist, conscious of the dangers, avoiding any self-lacerating political manoeuvres.

Simultaneously, from a distance, the cerebrally nimble and sharp-tongued Saleshando, recognising that his position as the leader of the opposition is anything but ornamental, instinctually takes his place as an astute, eagle-eyed and sharply observant antagonist. The spotlight burns brightly on Boko and his carefully appointed retinue, with every eye and expectation locked on the intermittent adrenaline-infusing scenes of the unfolding storyline that promises to captivate the nation. Certainly, l’Avvocato carismatico has his work cut out for him!

Equally intriguing, like an agile king cobra fluorescent with unbridled rage, Saleshando is alert, lying in wait, biding time to creep on DGB. His icy, unblinking brown eyes glistening with an unrestrained purpose and a merciless primal focus, eerily locked with unnerving intensity on every slight twitch and flinch made by the president. Instinctively poised to pull a sneak attack and strike with an unforgiving lethal precision at the first hint of vulnerability. The nation’s tension is as raw as it is palpable. Each fleeting microsecond of the nation’s sino-cyclic emotional trajectory, from the crushing lows to the exhilarating highs, propels us ever so close to the next polls.

While we patiently watch the movie’s plot gradually unfurl over the next 57 months, one thing remains certain. After four and a bit years in power, on the inevitable cusp of judgement, with the campaign hustings once again looming on the horizon, upon casting a reflective gaze on the political rearview mirror, the ruling coalition cannot afford to see a somewhat humdrum denouement, for that will constitute an ambient threat to clinging to power. What could possibly serve as a greater motivator to earnestly combating the lulu of our national shames!