Dumelang Saleshando, Leader of the Opposition and Member of Parliament for Maun North, has intensified scrutiny of Botswana’s anti-corruption apparatus by outright rejecting a P25,375,960 budget proposal for the Ethics and Integrity Directorate. He contends that the institution falls short on transparency, a critical shortcoming that undermines public trust.
Addressing the parliamentary budget debates, Saleshando reiterated that his opposition to the directorate is longstanding. He made clear that he did not endorse the body under the previous Botswana Democratic Party government, and sees no reason to alter his stance under the current administration unless significant reforms are enacted.
Central to his critique is the manner in which the declarations of assets by public officials are managed. Although Botswana has established systems requiring leaders to declare their wealth, Saleshando argued that the process is fundamentally flawed due to its secretive nature.
He called for comprehensive legal reforms mandating that politicians publicly disclose their assets both before assuming office and upon leaving it. “The law must enforce politicians to declare what they have before they enter office and what they have when they leave,” he insisted. “If this information remains hidden, it does not make a difference. It does not enhance confidence in the eyes of the public.”
For Saleshando, transparency transcends mere principle; it is an essential guardrail against the misappropriation of public resources. He cautioned that confidential declarations create loopholes, allowing corruption to fester undetected and eroding democratic accountability.
His remarks posed a direct challenge to the Minister of State for the Presidency, Defence and Security, Moeti Mohwasa, who defended the directorate by highlighting ongoing efforts to bolster oversight. Among these is the planned creation of a public register identifying officials who have submitted asset declarations and those who have failed to comply despite formal notices.
Yet Saleshando dismissed this measure as insufficient, criticizing its focus on procedural compliance rather than genuine transparency. “There is a good chance that some of those who have complied are still corrupt,” he said. “What is needed is full disclosure, not partial measures.”
This debate unfolds against Botswana’s entrenched reputation as one of Africa’s least corrupt nations. Transparency International’s 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index awarded Botswana 58 points, tying it for third place on the continent alongside Rwanda and ranking it 41st globally out of 182 countries and territories.
This score places Botswana comfortably above the 50-point threshold often considered indicative of robust anti-corruption controls, reinforcing its image as a regional exemplar of governance and accountability.
Yet beneath these international accolades, Afrobarometer’s August 2024 survey reveals rising public unease about corruption within key state institutions. Many Batswana now perceive corruption as intensifying, particularly within the Presidency and Parliament.
Notably, the Presidency is ranked among the most corrupt institutions by respondents, a significant reversal in public sentiment over the past decade. A majority expressed the belief that corruption is escalating at the highest levels of government.
While Botswana’s institutional framework has historically been lauded for its strength, critics argue that shifting public expectations demand greater openness, especially in sectors involving political leadership.
The contentious budget debate surrounding the Ethics and Integrity Directorate has reignited questions about the effectiveness of existing anti-corruption bodies. Observers are increasingly asking whether current mechanisms truly deter misconduct or if more fundamental structural changes are overdue.