Ethics, whistleblowing and the fight against corruption in Botswana: A journalist�s perspective

Needless to say, the last 10 years have been very difficult and trying for Botswana. On the economic front there was the global economic meltdown, the effects of which we are still reeling from, as it is evident from the slowed rate of economic growth. We continued to grapple with the triple challenges of unemployment, poverty and inequality. And just over 12 months ago we saw the closure of BCL Mine in Selebi-Phikwe which sent shock waves through the nation as 5,000 of our compatriots lost their jobs.

Most importantly, over the last 10 years, we saw a systematic hollowing out of state oversight institutions. Parliament became a rubber stamp of the Executive. The DCEC lost its mojo as a robust corruption busting body that it was promising to be at its inception. The office of the Ombudsman became a laughing stock as its rulings are persistently ignored. And the Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP) was emasculated as a result of being captured by the Executive.