27 Aug 2019

Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Kgotla Autlwetse says corruption is detrimental not only to citizens, but the economy as well.

Speaking during the anti-corruption clubs fair that was held under the auspices of the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC) in Serowe on August 25, Mr Autlwetse said the establishment of the organisation in 1994 was an effort by government to combat corruption and economic crime.

Mr Autlwetse implored the students who took part to strengthen the organaisation’s mandate through apt information dissemination methods and targeting youth in the institutions of learning through established anti-corruption clubs.

He urged the youth to stand against corruption, noting that the fair was a foundation for morality and attitudinal change.

Mr Autlwetse said an inclusive government was a pledge for increased integrity and transparency through the introduction of legislation on declaration of assets, whistle blowers protection and strengthening administrative protocols as evidenced during the last Parliament session discussions.

He said if all shunned corruption and the leadership across all levels were without a speck, families vigilant in child upbringing, churches upright in social development, then the envisaged Botswana would be possible.

Swaneng Hill School head, Ms Gabalape Autlwetse said it was important to meet regularly to evaluate anti-corruption strategies.

This, she said, was necessary because perpetrators never seized to work on new ways of beating the system.

She said what compounded the problem was that many seemed to have lost the ability to distinguish right from wrong.

Ms Autlwetse urged communities to support anti-corruption clubs.

An official from DCEC, Mr Koketso Ntswetswe explained that the clubs were available in junior and senior secondary schools and their main objective was for the youth to disseminate anti-corruption information to their peers, participate meaningfully in social and economic activities and to improve the youth understanding of ethics.

He said there was an annual congress at the end of the year where clubs shared experiences and assisted one an other on how to run the clubs effectively.

Senior secondary schools that took part included; Mater-Spei College, Mmadinare and Swaneng Hill, while the junior secondary schools were Setlalekgosi, Gold Mine, Mmei and Orapa. Ends