P1. 7 billion lost to tax crimes
The Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC) has warned that Botswana's fight against corruption is becoming increasingly challenging as criminal networks adopt more sophisticated methods to conceal illicit activities, exploit technological advancements, and circumvent existing regulatory controls.
Speaking at the National Dialogue on Illicit Financial Flows, DCEC representative Lentswe Motshoganetsi said corruption remains one of the greatest threats to good governance, economic development, and public trust, despite Botswana's long-standing reputation for transparency and prudent management of public resources.
'Botswana used to be known as the least corrupt country but it is now going down. Countries who are now on the high rank came to benchmark here and they are now implementing what they learnt here. We have good policies, but the problem is implementation'.
He noted that corruption has evolved significantly over the years, moving beyond traditional forms of bribery to include complex financial crimes, procurement fraud, money laundering, illicit financial flows, and abuse of corporate structures.
Motshoganetsi highlighted that these emerging trends have made investigations more demanding and resource-intensive, requiring specialised skills, advanced technology, and greater cooperation among institutions.
'The DCEC struggles to fight corruption due to lack of resources. 70 percent of the institution’s budget goes to salaries and this limits our efforts to fight corruption'.
One of DCEC’s major challenges is the increasing complexity of financial crimes, which frequently involve multiple jurisdictions and intricate networks operating across borders.
Such cases often require collaboration with international agencies, financial intelligence units, regulators, and law enforcement bodies to trace assets and gather evidence.
Limited reporting by members of the public remains another significant obstacle in the fight against corruption.
While corruption often occurs in environments where several individuals may have knowledge of wrongdoing, many cases go unreported due to fear of retaliation, lack of evidence, or concerns about personal consequences.
“Corruption thrives in silence. The fight against corruption requires citizens to speak out and report wrongdoing whenever they encounter it,” the official said.
DCEC also emphasised the devastating impact corruption has on national development. Funds lost through corrupt practices, officials noted, reduce government’s ability to invest in critical sectors such as healthcare, education, infrastructure development, social protection programmes, and employment creation.
According to the Directorate, corruption not only diverts public resources but also discourages investment, increases the cost of doing business, undermines fair competition, and weakens public confidence in institutions.
“Every pula lost through corruption is a lost opportunity for national development and improved service delivery,” the Directorate said.
To address these challenges, DCEC said it is strengthening its prevention, investigation, and public education programmes.
The agency continues to engage government ministries, parastatals, local authorities, private companies, and civil society organisations to promote ethical conduct and improve governance systems.
The Directorate also called on organisations to strengthen internal controls, improve transparency in procurement processes, and implement effective risk management frameworks to reduce opportunities for corruption.
Recognising the increasingly digital nature of financial crimes, DCEC indicated that technology, data analytics, and enhanced information sharing will play a critical role in future anti-corruption efforts.
The Directorate is therefore investing in capacity building and modern investigative tools to improve its ability to detect and investigate complex corruption cases.
The agency said success will depend on strong collaboration among government institutions, regulators, law enforcement agencies, financial institutions, academia, civil society, and international partners.
“No single institution can fight corruption alone. Effective prevention and enforcement require a coordinated national response built on trust, information sharing, and collective action,” the Directorate stated.
As Botswana continues to pursue economic transformation and sustainable development, DCEC maintains that combating corruption must remain a national priority.
The Directorate believes that strengthening transparency, accountability, and public participation will be critical in protecting public resources and preserving Botswana’s reputation as one of Africa’s leading examples of good governance.
Botswana Institute for Development and Policy Analysis (BIDPA) research fellow, Marumo Omotoye said about P1. 7 billion is lost to tax crimes which posed highest money laundering risk with money laundering and non-remittance of PAYE emerging as the largest source of illicit proceeds.