Category: Sunday Standard

I want to draw on two anecdotes that make me doubt the extent to which we, i.e., Botswana, are willing to modernise our public service delivery platforms. There is a lot of talk about modernising and providing services online, but the level of our commitment to fulfilling that mission raises some questions.

And I want to highlight those anecdotes which I recently noted. The first is the long queue that they had at the Main Mall Post Office. This was a queue of beneficiaries of the Old Age Pension, and it was really strange that. you would. make people queue for that long. If, truly, we want to modernise our systems, then it is more convenient to pay directly into pensioners’individual accounts. Alternatively, there are other payment methods. We could, for instance, pay through their mobile payment systems. Why that is. not being done is a mystery.

The second anecdote, again, concerns the government. There are several cases where they allow you to pay online but still demand a hard copy of the proof of payment. This then begs the question of the value of paying online if you now have to worry about submitting a hard copy.

As I said, these are two anecdotes, there might be unfair to conclude on the government willingness to embrace technology to improve services. And I understand that.

So if we really want to modernise our systems and automate them, then going online must mean going online. You cannot go online, but then insist that you want, uh, a hard copy of proof, to prove that indeed, the transaction has been made online. That comes across. like double-handling. So the fact of the matter is that it’s either one or the other but not both. There have been several instances where the public is. allowed to pay online. But then you still have the government asking for physical copies of proof of payment. That is just unfortunate.

You also have cases where. email is still not really considered as a form of formal communication or invitation. For example, when they invite you for a formal meeting via email, they will still double that invitation with a letter. So, effectively, they invite you twice. And that is unnecessary, and also costly. Because we have written an email spending time on that email. And then following that email with a letter. Which is delivered physically. Even if they don’t deliver it, the fact that a letter, say, is accompanying an email is unnecessary. So that’s. is where we are.

By being tentative, the government is missing out on an opportunity to tap into technology to improve services. Doing so also helps the government to raise productivity, especially given the scarce resources. It also helps to reduce costs

This is the time to do more with less. And there is no reason why. We should ignore the benefits that come along with it, allowing most of our services to be provided online.

Botswana’s latest labour force data suggests not a cyclical fluctuation, but a structural inflection point in the country’s development trajectory. Preliminary findings from the 2024/25 Botswana Multi Topic Household Survey show that unemployment among persons aged 15 and above has risen to 21 percent, up from 17.6 percent in 2015/16. According to Statistics Botswana, ‘the unemployment rate for persons aged 15 years and above increased from 17.6 percent in 2015/16 to 21.0 percent in 2024/25.’

At first glance, the increase appears modest, a 3.4 percentage point rise over a decade. Yet placed within broader demographic and labour force dynamics, the trend is more consequential.

Botswana’s total population expanded by 14.2 percent over the period, reaching 2.37 million. More significantly, the labour force grew by 21.7 percent, a rate outpacing both population growth and employment creation. While the employed population increased by 16.7 percent, from 689,528 to 804,663, this was insufficient to absorb new entrants.

As the report notes, ’employment creation has not fully matched the pace of labour force growth, resulting in a higher unemployment rate compared to 2015/16.’ The data therefore points to a labour market that is expanding quantitatively but struggling to adjust structurally.

A further complexity lies in the apparent decline in the number of officially unemployed individuals from 280,482 to 213,437. This reduction, however, must be interpreted cautiously. The brief acknowledges that ‘a possible explanation to the drop can [be] attributed to either a growing number of the employed (transition to employment) or increase in the discouraged job seekers, yielding a contraction in the labour force base.’

In other words, headline unemployment figures may obscure labour market withdrawal. The extended unemployment rate which includes discouraged job seekers fell from 32.5 percent to 27.3 percent. While this suggests some improvement in broader labour underutilisation, it also highlights the sensitivity of labour metrics to definitional boundaries.

The sharpest warning sign lies with young people. Youth unemployment, covering those aged 15 to 35, rose from 25.1 percent to 28.9 percent. Young women face the highest levels of joblessness, at 30.7 percent, compared with 27.2 percent for young men. At the same time, the youth labour force grew by 8.3 percent, meaning more young people are competing for limited opportunities.

There was some improvement in the proportion of young people not in education, employment or training (NEET), which fell from 39.9 percent to 37.1 percent. But more than a third of young people remain disconnected from both work and skills development.

Taken together, the findings suggest that Botswana’s long-standing growth model historically anchored in capital-intensive sectors may be encountering absorption constraints in an increasingly youthful labour market. The policy challenge is no longer solely about aggregate employment creation, but about the composition, inclusivity and labour intensity of growth.

Overall, the report shows that while the country’s development success story remains intact, the labour market data signals that its next phase will require more than incremental adjustment.

Botswana is facing mounting international pressure from the European Union and Ukraine to clamp down on recruitment networks allegedly luring young Batswana men to fight alongside Russian forces in the war in Ukraine.

In a resolution adoted recently, the European Parliament warned that deceptive recruitment campaigns targeting African citizens were contributing to a growing number of foreign fighters in the Russian army.

The resolution specifically urged governments in Africa including Botswana to take urgent steps to dismantle recruitment networks and warn citizens about the dangers of travelling to Russia for suspicious job offers.

The European lawmakers said the practice has exposed young men to exploitation and possible death on the battlefield.

‘The resolution highlights the disturbing fact that a growing number of foreign fighters in the Russian army were brought to Russia or to the frontlines in Ukraine under false pretences,’ the European Parliament stated.

It further called on governments of Botswana, South Africa, Kenya and Ghana to ‘crack down on deceptive recruitment activities that see their young men fight on the frontlines alongside Russian forces.’

The EU also appealed to social media platforms to prevent their services from being used to run fraudulent recruitment campaigns linked to the Russian military.

‘Governments must proactively warn their citizens of the dangers of travelling to Russia in connection with job offers that are either directly or indirectly linked to the Russian army,’ the resolution said.

The development comes as Botswana confirmed it was investigating reports that Batswana citizens had been recruited into Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Speaking in Parliament this week, Botswana’s Minister of International Relations, Phenyo Butale, revealed that diplomatic engagement was underway to address the issue.

Butale said preparations were underway for President Duma Boko to hold a telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding the matter.

The minister also disclosed that an international investigation was underway into the alleged recruitment scheme.

‘Interpol is currently investigating the human trafficking syndicate believed to be behind the falsified recruitment of Batswana citizens,’ Butale told Parliament.

Meanwhile Ukraine has also stepped up diplomatic pressure as it warned that participation in the conflict carries grave consequences.

Ukraine’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Andrij Sybiha, said Kyiv had taken note of Botswana’s recent statement acknowledging the reports.

‘Ukraine has taken note of the statement issued by the Ministry of International Relations of the Republic of Botswana on February 26 regarding reports of Batswana nationals recruited into Russia’s war against Ukraine,’ Sybiha said.

He welcomed Botswana’s willingness to engage but urged Gaborone to formally consult Ukrainian authorities on the matter.

‘We welcome the efforts of Botswana’s government to engage with relevant authorities. Ukraine remains open to bilateral dialogue on this matter,’ he said.

Sybiha also warned that foreign citizens fighting in Russia’s war faced potentially fatal outcomes.

‘Ukraine’s position remains consistent: participation of foreign citizens in Russia’s war of aggression carries serious and often fatal consequences,’ he said.

He further pointed out that Botswana’s own laws prohibit citizens from participating in foreign armed conflicts as mercenaries.

‘Participation of Batswana citizens in foreign armed conflicts as mercenaries is prohibited under Botswana’s national legislation,’ Sybiha added.

The EU resolution also criticised countries that fail to prevent their citizens from joining Russia’s war effort warning that such practices undermine international efforts to contain the conflict.

The Botswana pula posted mixed movements against major currencies over the past month, weakening against some key trading partners while gaining modest ground against others, according to the latest exchange rate update.

Data for the one-month period to February 2026 show that the pula depreciated by 0.3 percent against the South African rand and by 0.2 percent against the International Monetary Fund’s Special Drawing Rights (SDR). Movements against other major currencies were similarly uneven.

During the same period, the pula weakened by 1.9 percent against the Chinese renminbi and by 0.6 percent against the US dollar. However, the local currency registered gains against several other currencies, appreciating by 1.5 percent against the British pound, 0.8 percent against the Japanese yen and 0.4 percent against the euro.

The short-term movements come against the backdrop of longer-term shifts in global currency markets and regional economic dynamics, particularly the close link between the pula and the South African rand. South Africa remains Botswana’s largest trading partner, meaning fluctuations in the rand often influence the relative value of the local currency.

Over the twelve-month period to February 2026, the pula recorded a sharper depreciation of 7 percent against the rand. Against the SDR, however, the currency appreciated by 2.7 percent over the same period.

Performance against individual SDR constituent currencies was largely positive. The pula appreciated by 12.2 percent against the Japanese yen and by 7.9 percent against the US dollar. It also gained 1.4 percent against the Chinese renminbi and 0.8 percent against the British pound.

The euro was the main exception over the year, with the pula depreciating by 5.1 percent against the European currency.

Botswana’s diamond industry showed tentative signs of recovery in 2025 after a difficult year marked by weak global demand, although the sector continues to operate under pressure from high inventories and subdued prices.

Rough diamond exports climbed to about P53.9 billion in 2025, up around 23% from P44 billion in 2024, reflecting improved trading volumes as producers worked through accumulated stock and gradually increased sales.

The country’s largest producer, Debswana, the 50/50 joint venture between the Botswana government and De Beers, produced about 15.1 million carats in 2025, down from 17.9 million carats the previous year as the company continued to manage output in response to weak market uptake.

Debswana’s two operating mines, Jwaneng and Orapa, produced 14.1 million carats by the end of November, while sales reached 18.1 million carats valued at about $1.78 billion (P24 billion), slightly higher than the $1.62 billion (P22 billion) realised in the prior year, indicating that producers relied partly on inventory sales to maintain revenues.

The company remains central to Botswana’s public finances, historically providing steady monthly inflows to government through dividends, taxes and royalties. But the recent downturn in the diamond market has slowed those flows, forcing government to rely more heavily on Southern African Customs Union (SACU) revenues and domestic borrowing to finance spending.

To sustain long-term production, Debswana is pushing ahead with the Jwaneng Underground Development Project, which aims to extend the life of the world’s richest diamond mine beyond the current Cut 9 pit. Development has advanced 5.3 km against a target of 4.9 km, putting the project about 9% ahead of schedule, with the mine expected to operate until around 2050. Meanwhile, the proposed Orapa Cut 3 expansion remains on hold pending a clearer outlook for diamond prices.

Beyond Debswana, the state-owned Okavango Diamond Company (ODC) sold $457 million (P6.2 billion) worth of rough diamonds in 2025, up from $425 million (P5.8 billion) the year before.

Botswana’s midstream cutting and polishing sector remained broadly stable but subdued. Diamond manufacturers were supplied with stones worth $571 million (P7.7 billion) in 2025, slightly lower than $580 million (P7.8 billion) in 2024, reflecting cautious purchasing by factories.

Exports of polished diamonds reached P7.6 billion up to November 2025, marginally down from P7.8 billion the previous year.

The country currently has 41 licensed diamond cutting and polishing firms, although several have closed operations in recent years as margins tightened. Employment in the sector stood at 2,544 workers as of January 2026.

The Ministry of Finance said the industry continues to grapple with elevated inventories, with Botswana’s diamond stockpile estimated at 12 million carats, nearly double the acceptable level of about 6.5 million carats, as producers limit supply to avoid pushing prices lower.

The National Amalgamated Local, Central Government and Parastatal Manual Workers’ Union has launched a blistering attack on President Duma Boko and the governing Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC). The Union accuses Boko’s administration of intolerance, arrogance and a failure to engage democratic institutions.

The Union has released a publication titled A Clarion Crying Voice: UDC Government Failures, in which they argue that the new administration has betrayed the spirit of inclusive governance that propelled it to power in the 2024 elections.

The document claims the government has developed a leadership style characterised by hostility toward critics and the monopolisation of decision-making power.

‘The UDC government has become intolerant, arrogant and less inclusive of other critical democratic voices,’ the union states in the opening chapter of the report.

According to the union, the leadership style of the president is central to what it describes as deteriorating governance standards. The document alleges that Boko operates with an excessive sense of intellectual superiority and little willingness to accept criticism.

‘.we have continuously evidenced that this country is ruled by an angry president,’ the report states.

‘He inaptly believes that he is the most intelligent person to ever grace Botswana, so much that he can even advise himself.’ The union further claims that the president regularly dismisses input from key democratic actors including the media, business community, legislators and students.

‘He derides all the custodians of democracy; the media, Business Botswana, the legislators, the opposition parties and the tertiary students and by insinuation his party comrades in parliament and grade all as of limited intellectual pedigree,’ the report says.

The publication also criticizes the government’s approach to national decision-making, arguing that the president has failed to convene broad consultations on major crises facing the country.

Among the issues cited are rising gender-based violence, youth unemployment and economic contraction linked to declining diamond revenues.

According to the union, these challenges require collective national dialogue rather than unilateral decisions from the executive.

‘We remain shocked that under such catastrophic situations, the president remains a leader without other leaders,’ the document says.

The union goes further, warning that the current leadership approach risks eroding Botswana’s democratic traditions.

‘We are under typical African dictatorship where everything is controlled by the president except the climate,’ the publication states.

The Union also criticized what it described as opaque governance structures within the current administration. The report argues that the UDC government entered office promising transparency, participatory democracy and inclusive governance but has not lived up to those commitments. ‘It should be noted that the UDC government entered governance decreeing moral superiority, progressive governance, intellectual rigour, inclusivity, participatory democracy and consultative governance,’ the document states.

However, the union contends that the reality of governance has fallen far short of those ideals.

The report also highlights economic pressures facing the country, including high youth unemployment and a struggling economy.

According to figures cited in the document, youth unemployment reached about 43.86 percent in 2024, while the economy contracted for several consecutive quarters due to declining global demand for natural diamonds.

The union argues that such problems require inclusive policy dialogue involving multiple stakeholders.

‘All the above national pains could have warranted a progressive president to have called a democracy stakeholder meeting for idea mining and sharing,’ the report says.

To address the perceived governance failures, the union proposes the establishment of a presidential advisory think tank composed of independent experts.

The body, described in the report as a ‘laboratory of ideas,’ would provide research-based advice to guide government policy.

‘This entails the creation of a laboratory of ideas to foster thought leadership,’ the report explains.

The union says such an institution could help restore trust in leadership and improve policy formulation.

The report also calls for the adoption of what it describes as a ‘leadership value-based moral index’ to ensure ethical governance and accountability among those in positions of power.

Despite its harsh criticism, the union frames its intervention as a patriotic contribution to national debate rather than an attack on the government.

‘This clarion call therefore endeavors to amplify and operationalize critical postures of policy intents which can transform Botswana,’ the document states.

When we were undergraduates at the University of Botswana in the early 1990s, every Sunday afternoon a group of us would walk from campus to Urban Police Station outside Bontleng to go and attend BNF political rallies addressed by Kenneth Koma.

At those rallies Koma was often accompanied by his key lieutenants that included Lemogang Ntime, Paul Rantao, Lesego Toro, Maitshwarelo Dabutha, Frank Marumo, Johnson Motswarakgole and Ginger Ernest – among others.

All these were political firebrands. We looked at them as our heroes. Of course we were still fascinated by socialism and all the dreams it espoused.

Foremost among this group was Motshwarakgole. He had a way with words. Like Rantao, Motswarakgole was a councillor at Gaborone City Council.

After graduating at the university I joined Botswana Gazette as a journalist and early on in my career the editor sent me out to go and interview Motshwarakgole.

Securing the interview was easy.

And together with a photographer, we took a taxi to the village where Manual Workers Union had a very modest office – a far cry from the multi-story offices they occupy today at the high-end Gaborone CBD.

That was the first interview, and since then I have lost count of how many times I have had to interview him over and over again.

The most interesting of those was when we went out to do a profile of the man.

He told us he has had very little formal education, that he started off as a government driver at Molepolole – I think it was at Scottish Hospital, and that he has had to rely on his photographic memory to make up for what he had lacked in formal education.

He has a wealth of knowledge. And listening to him is much more precious than reading a book on Botswana’s contemporary history.

That profile of this self-made man is still available in the archives of this newspaper.

So much about the background!

This week I attended a book launch y Manual Workers Union.

It is a book that is highly critical of President Duma Boko and the UDC government.

For me the bigger story however is who was in attendance.

The BCP was well represented. This caught my attention.

Their delegation was led by none other than their Secretary General, Goretetse Kekgonegile.

He was accompanied by his political mentor, BCP vice president Taolo Lucas. Also present from the BCP were Tobias Marenga, a former trade unionist and also Mmaotho Segotso their fiery political technologist.

To my astonishment, there was nobody from the Botswana National Front.

The UDC was represented by officers from the secretariat. The UDC head honcho Patrick Molotsi was not there.

Power has a way of changing people. UDC is just over a year in power.

Before he became a Minister of State, these are the kind of events where you would expect to see Moeti Mohwasa.

He would take a bus all the way from his home village in Sefhophe or Selibe Phikwe just to attend such an event and then drive back another 500 kilometres. A sheer sign of both humility and commitment to duty.

Now he is too busy. And typical of a politician in power, he is sadly also losing touch.

He is not the only one. The situation is worse among some of his cabinet colleagues.

By any standards, the UDC has had an aberrant start to government.

They may want us to believe otherwise, but they are not magic-men.

Not so long ago, each one of them was one of us. We knew them as men of many frailties.

Now there is a big wall they are erecting between themselves and us the people.

And surprise, surprise, this also applies to vice president Ndaba Gaolathe – the man we used to think could not change.

And they are enjoying themselves, not worried by the visible differences in lifestyles between them and the people.

Lest we forget, the UDC arrived into power badly bruised by life.

Once in power there has been no respite. And they have now become very prickly, very irascible.

Events are at the moment conspiring against the UDC. It looks like power will bruise them much more than was the case with the time they spent out of it.

The economy has been their biggest enemy.

Yet still, power is making them behave rather strangely – almost like recovering drug addicts.

To be fair to them, none of them has been talking up their scale of victory, which is a sufficient indicator that they are conscious of what their victory, especially the high number of seats in Parliament actually conceals.

That is a welcome caution. That should make them want to engage not fight with Motshwarakgole.

But that caution is also a welcome sign of humility on their part.

The UDC government needs to show more humility, especially in their interactions with the public.

Thery should reduce their grand promises.

They should keep the nation on side. This means not losing the nation and making sure the nation does not lose them.

The UDC is a creation of trade unions, the media and NGOs.

It is thus wrong to treat any of these as an enemy of the UDC.

And Motshwarakgole was at the forefront of efforts to create the UDC.

I know because I was there, myself.

The UDC was created after it became clear that none of the opposition parties was strong enough to dislodge the Botswana Democratic Party from power.

Its early days yet, but it looks like the UDC government is bracing itself for a fight Motshwarakgole and the trade union he leads.

There has been noise to question his BNF bonafides.

For the UDC government, the downsides risks of fighting Motshwarakgole far outweigh the upside benefits likely to accrue from such action.

UDC leadership should strive to be elders in the room.

An assault on Motshwarakgole and Manual Workers Union will be ill-advised.

This is not just because he is a tried and tested fighter. Rather it is because he has nothing to lose.

UDC government on their part have everything to lose.

They should for that reason, climbdown.

This requires them to swallow their pride, to be humble and to let bygones be bygones.

They should resist the temptation of thinking that the fight against Motshwarakgole and his trade union is part of the godsent zeitgeist that they are building. Far from it. Or thy will find themselves swallowed by elephant traps.

They need to ask themselves a simple question – why fight somebody who naturally is on your side?

If they do that, engaging Motshwarakgole should not be so difficult for the UDC.

A new study conducted at Princess Marina Hospital has revealed a troubling reality as more than a third of cancer patients receiving treatment at he nation’s main referral hospital are battling depression.

The study, titled ‘Prevalence of depression and association with quality-of-life among oncology patients at Princess Marina Hospital, Botswana: A cross-sectional study,’ shows that this compounds the already heavy burden of disease.

It also found that 35.8 percent of oncology patients screened positive for depression. The research involved 302 patients, 28 percent of them in-patients and 72 percent out-patients.

Researchers reported that the median age of participants was 55 years with women making up 71 percent of the sample. A majority of patients which translated to 70 percent, were unemployed and had no personal income. Among those who reported earning, the average monthly income was just 29 US dollars (about P390).

‘This study reveals a high prevalence of depression among oncology patients at Princess Marina Hospital,’ the authors state. They added that; ‘Depression may greatly affect not only overall quality of life but also ultimately survival.’

The findings point to a web of hardship. Participants reported a mean pain score of four out of 10. However, those with depression experienced significantly higher pain levels, averaging six compared to four among non-depressed patients which is a statistically significant difference.

‘Pain was identified as a major factor associated with depression, affecting multiple aspects of quality of life,’ the researchers noted. They found a clear positive correlation between higher pain levels and increased depression scores.

Beyond physical discomfort, depression was shown to erode quality of life across every measured domain: physical health, psychological health, social relationships and environmental well-being. Researchers found a negative correlation between depression and quality-of-life scores, meaning that as depressive symptoms increased, quality of life declined sharply.

‘Addressing the dual challenges of cancer and depression is crucial for enhancing the quality of life of oncology patients in Botswana,’ the study says. It also states that ‘By recognising and treating depression as a critical component of cancer care, healthcare providers can mitigate its detrimental effects.’

The study also revealed surprising trends. While previous research in Botswana has shown high depression rates among people with diabetes, this study found that cancer patients with type 2 diabetes were less likely to have depression.

Similarly, no increased risk of depression was found among cancer patients living with HIV, another result that diverges from prior global research. Only one percent of participants reported a prior mental illness diagnosis, a figure the researchers suggest may reflect underdiagnosis and poor mental health screening in general care.

Importantly, being newly diagnosed with cancer emerged as a key factor linked to depression, underscoring the emotional shock and uncertainty patients face at the onset of treatment.

The prevalence rate of 35.8 percent aligns closely with the African average and mirrors findings in other countries. For example, a comparable depression rate of 39.5 percent was observed among cervical cancer patients in Korea which is a relevant comparison given that cervical cancer remains the leading cause of cancer among women in Botswana.

The researchers argue that routine mental health screening must become standard practice in oncology settings. They recommended that ‘In Botswana, PHQ-9 screening should be a routine, standard part of oncology care.’

The study also recommended that treatment must go beyond chemotherapy and surgery. It also warned that without integrating mental health care into oncology, many patients at Princess Marina Hospital will continue fighting two battles at once; one against cancer and another within themselves.

First National Bank Botswana says growth in digital services helped cushion its performance by rising funding costs and tighter liquidity across the financial sector. The bank reported profit before tax of P1.0 billion for the six months to December 31, 2025, largely unchanged from the same period the previous year, reflecting what executives described as a cautious approach in a difficult operating environment.

Chief executive Steven Bogatsu said the lender continues to see strong uptake of its e-wallet platform, which remains central to its financial inclusion strategy. E-wallet transactions rose from 8.8 million to 9.7 million during the period, a 10 percent increase. The value of those transactions climbed 15 percent to P86 million from P75 million, even as mobile money operators intensify competition in the payments space.

Bogatsu said demand for the service is being driven largely by unbanked and underbanked communities, particularly in rural Botswana.

‘Financial exclusion, especially in rural areas, continues to support growth in the e-wallet platform,’ Bogatsu said.

He added that the bank’s agent network is increasingly spread across the country, with 41 percent operating in rural areas and 51 percent in urban centres.

On the financial front, net interest income rose 15 percent to P1.4 billion, supported by a four percent increase in advances and a 100 basis point increase in the prime lending rate.

However, higher funding costs weighed on margins. Interest expenses more than doubled year on year as term deposit rates climbed from about four percent to an average of 10 percent. Non-interest income increased 47 percent to P1.3 billion, helping lift total income by six percent to P1.99 billion. The bank also increased impairment provisions to P221 million as it sought to protect its loan book against rising credit risks.

Batswana who fail to report suspected corruption could face imprisonment or a fine under a tough new legislative proposal aimed at tightening the fight against graft.

According to the draft Anti-Corruption Bill, 2026, which is expected to be presented before the National Assembly by Minister for State President, Defence and Security, Moeti Mohwasa, every citizen will be legally obligated to report suspected corruption involving public institutions.

The proposed law states that ‘a person who suspects that an act constituting an offence under this Act has been committed or is about to be committed within or in relation to a public body has a duty to report to the Agency.’

The bill goes even further for those in leadership or positions of authority as it imposes stricter obligations on them.

It provides that ‘a person who holds a position of authority and who knows or ought reasonably to have known or suspected that another person has committed an offence under this Act shall lodge complaint of such knowledge or suspicion or cause such knowledge or suspicion to be reported to the Agency.’

Failure to comply with this legal obligation will itself become a criminal offence.

The bill warns that ‘a person who fails to comply with this section, commits an offence and is liable to a fine not exceeding P10,000 or to imprisonment for a term of not less than one year.’

The proposed legislation also formalises procedures for reporting corruption, requiring the anti-corruption agency to officially acknowledge every complaint.

It states that ‘upon receipt of a report. the Agency shall take down the complaint in such manner as it considers appropriate, and immediately provide the person who made the report with an acknowledgment of receipt of such complaint.’

In addition, the agency will issue guidelines to ensure compliance, with the draft law noting that ‘the Agency shall issue such guidelines as it considers appropriate to ensure compliance with this section.’

The bill also empowers individuals to report suspected corruption even before it occurs.

It says ‘a person who alleges that another person has engaged or is about to engage in a corrupt practice may lodge a complaint with the Agency in such manner as may be prescribed.’

According to the draft, ‘the Agency may investigate a matter under this Act on receipt of a complaint or on its own initiative.’

Once a complaint is lodged, the Director-General will assess its merit before deciding whether to proceed with an investigation.

The bill explains that the Director-General ‘shall, upon receipt of a complaint. examine each alleged corrupt practice and decide whether or not an investigation in relation to the allegation is warranted.’

Factors to be considered include ‘the seriousness of the conduct,’ ‘whether or not the allegation is frivolous or vexatious,’ and whether an investigation would likely reveal an offence.

Complainants will also be formally notified of the outcome.

The propsed legislation states that ‘the Director-General or authorised officer shall inform the complainant, in writing, of the decision of the Agency in relation to the allegation.’