Botswana is moving ahead with major reforms to its anti-corruption legislation, a commitment reaffirmed this morning as the country marked this year’s World Anti-Corruption Conference in Gaborone.
The Minister for State President Moeti Mohwasa said the second republic government is firmly dedicated to building a corruption-free administration.
Speaking under this year’s theme, “Uniting with Youth Against Corruption: Shaping Tomorrow’s Integrity,” Mohwasa underscored the critical role of young people in strengthening transparency and accountability. He said corruption has no place within the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) government, adding that past misconduct had eroded public trust in state institutions.
Mohwasa warned that weak transparency controls leave the nation’s democracy vulnerable. Strengthening Botswana’s anti-corruption laws, he said, will have a “far-reaching impact” as the government works to restore confidence in public systems.
In a similar fashion, the minister of Youth and Gender Affairs Lesego Chombo echoed these sentiments, highlighting the growing involvement of young people in combating corruption. She noted that youth-driven innovation, particularly the use of artificial intelligence and blockchain technologie,s is helping expose corrupt practices and enabling secure whistleblowing mechanisms.
Chombo stressed that youth participation in the anti-corruption fight is not optional but should be fully institutionalised. She said empowering young people to take up leadership roles will help advance Botswana’s vision of becoming a global model for safe civic spaces and sustainable democracy.
According to Chombo, increasing the presence of young people in decision-making structures is essential because they are both the most affected by corruption and the most determined to challenge it. She called for youth from all backgrounds to play a central role in building resilient, innovative, and fair governance systems.
She said empowering young people to take up leadership roles will help advance Botswana’s vision of becoming a global model for safe civic spaces and sustainable democracy.
She called for youth from all backgrounds to play a central role in building resilient, innovative, and fair governance systems.
The conference continues as Botswana positions itself to strengthen accountability frameworks and deepen public confidence in its democratic institutions.
