Boko calls for independent oversight institutions

The Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) President Advocate Duma Boko has challenged government to free oversight and accountability institutions from the control of the executive and resource them adequately.

He stated that under the UDC government, the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC), Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP), Ombudsman or Public Protector, Auditor General and the Financial Intelligence Agency (FIA), will all be removed from the executive.

The UDC leader pointed out that the founding legislation of these institutions will be reviewed to re-establish them as robust and independent oversight institutions that report directly to parliament. Furthermore, he said the leaders of all oversight institutions will be recruited through open, competitive and transparent processes that include confirmation by parliament.

He said there is also need to resource the Botswana Police Service adequately.

“We will prioritise resourcing the police adequately so that they have the human resources and skills, equipment, and managerial competencies necessary to keep Batswana and their property safe and to make investors and visitors feel equally safe and welcome,' he said.

He added that their priorities include increasing the numbers of officers on the ground to move towards visible policing. He cited Netherlands as one of the leading countries in this area, adding that the country is closing prisons as a result.

Boko believes that providing essential equipment and upskilling officers in accordance with the demands of today’s crimes, and improving working conditions is critical.

According to the UDC leader, who is also President of the Botswana National Front (BNF), his government will review legislation to strengthen oversight and accountability. He said as an alternative government they promise to review the DCEC Act to free the institution from the control of the Executive and introduce tougher sanctions for graft and corruption.

They will also review the legislation introducing the Ombudsman to provide for an independent Public Protector with an expanded best practice mandate.

Further, they will establish an independent prosecutions directorate. “We will delink the DPP from the Attorney General and strengthen and resource the directorate to relieve the police of prosecution functions”, he promised.