Media's role highlighted in fight against graft

Botswana is determined to regain its status as the least corrupt country in Africa, reports the Botswana Daily News. According to Transparency International’s latest Corruption Perception Index (CPI), Botswana ranked 57 out of 100 countries in 2024, a decline from its previous ranking of 59 out of 100 in 2023. The Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime's (DCEC) DG, Botlhale Makgekgenene, said Botswana’s CPI ranking was shaped by numerous indicators such as accountability of the executive, the regulation of party funding, the effectiveness of the judiciary, and the availability of information to both the media and the general public. She stressed the necessity of a collaborative partnership with the media, which she viewed as a critical partner in the fight against corruption and its associated challenges. She further underscored the media’s essential contribution to the DCEC’s investigative work, noting that many breakthroughs in various corruption cases had emerged from reports generated through multiple media channels, especially social media. She said the DECC received a total of 687 reports alleging corruption and economic crimes in 2024, of which 238 were classified for further investigation, with 221 cases related to corruption, seven focused on economic crimes and 10 on money laundering.