Fight Against Corruption: Learning From Botswana’s Success Story

Amongst the countries participating at the 16th Commonwealth Regional Conference of Heads of Anti-Corruption Agencies in Africa is Botswana, a country with over three decades of sustained efforts in the fight against corruption. This is done through the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC), an equivalent of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (CONAC) of Cameroon. The Director General of Botswana’s DCEC, Makgekgenene Botlhale, is in Yaounde for the conference and shares Botswana’s experience and success story in the fight against corruption. The Director General explains that from its inception, DCEC was modelled on the Hong Kong Independent Commission Against Corruption framework, adopting a three-pronged strategy of investigation, corruption prevention and public education. “This structure remains intact, anchored by a clear institutional mission: to combat corruption by utilising corruption prevention, public education and investigation strategies to achieve a corruption-free society. The consistency of this mandate has enabled the Directorate to maintain strategic continuity while progressively adapting its operational model to respond to emerging risks,” she stated. Makgekgenene Botlhale noted that DCEC has consistently maintained a position among Botswana’s most trusted public institutions, supported by professional handling of complaints, confidentiality safeguards and visible enforcement outcomes. This trust, she said, has strengthened cooperation between citizens and the Directorate, enhancing early detection of corruption and improving investigative processes. At regional level, it was revealed that Botswana has extended this institutional model through the hosting of the Commonwealth Africa Anti-Corruption Centre (CAACC). The Centre serves as a platform for capacity building, research and cooperation among anti-corruption agencies in Commonwealth Africa. On the international front, the anti-corruption agency continues to propel Botswana to consiste...