Countries work closely to end cross-border crime

Botswana has entered into a number of inter-government collaborative arrangements with countries including Zimbabwe, South Africa, Namibia, and Rwanda to address corruption and related crimes. These arrangements have resulted in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) between anti-corruption authorities.

Acting Director-General of the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC) Tshepo Pilane mentioned this when sharing lessons and practices on anti-corruption work during the African Anti-Corruption Commemoration day in Francistown.

Pilane underscored the importance of collaboration in fighting cross-border crime, which he said is both transnational in nature and continues to drain resources out of Africa.

His views were earlier underscored by the Assistant Minister in the State Presidency, Dumezweni Mthimkhulu who indicated that investigating cross-border corruption and crime can be a difficult and painstaking process if concerned countries do not have a mutual working relationship in place.

Mthimkhulu explained that cross-border crime and corruption occur when criminals commit crimes in one country and proceed to hide in another where they will quietly enjoy the fruits of their criminal career.

He said that investigations into such crimes often go stale and lose credibility in the long run.

“It is on this premise that we look forward to a healthy relationship with our counterparts to push corruption beyond our borders, “ the minister said.

Mthimkhulu urged African countries to commit to formulating robust, intelligent, and relevant policies, as well as developing legal pathways to root out corruption in the African continent.

Held under the theme, ‘Strategies and Mechanisms for the Transparent Management of Covid-19 Funds,’ the day was meant to acknowledge the substantial progress that African Union (AU) Member States have made in the fight against corruption.