REPORT OF THE REGIONAL CONFERENCE ON CORRUPTION and the Challenge of Economic Transformation in Southern Africa 18-20 JUNE 2018 GABORONE Report of the Regional Conference on Corruption and the Challenge of Economic Transformation in Southern Africa 1. Preamble institutions, with the objective to synthesize workable solutions to reduce if not eliminate corruption in order to foster inclusive economic transformation capable The Subregional Office for Southern Africa of the of addressing the socioeconomic problems brought Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and the African about by corruption. Union Southern Africa Regional Office, in collaboration with the Botswana Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime, organized a regional conference on corruption and the challenge of economic 2. Attendance transformation in Southern Africa, in Gaborone from 18 to 20 June 2018. The African Union had declared The regional conference was attended by academics 2018 as the year of anti-corruption under the theme and researchers from universities and research “Winning the fight against corruption: a sustainable institutions from the following countries: Botswana; path to Africa’s transformation”. The conference was Congo; Kenya; Lesotho; Liberia; Mauritius; Malawi; centred on this declaration. The debates focused Mozambique; Namibia; Nigeria; Seychelles; South on the realization that the goal of economic Africa; Uganda; United Republic of Tanzania; Zambia transformation remains elusive, even though African and Zimbabwe. The participants and delegates leaders have crafted economic development included representatives of national anti-corruption blueprints, such as the Lagos Plan of Action and the institutions from the following member States of the Final Act of Lagos, the African Alternative Framework Southern African Development Community (SADC): to Structural Adjustment Programmes for Socio- Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Economic Recovery and Transformation, the New Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, United Republic of Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) and Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Agenda 2063. These initiative are bolstered by national development plans in different African countries. Some The following organizations were represented at the of the issues that have stalled African efforts at radical conference: African Peer Review Mechanism; African economic transformation are policy inconsistency, Union Commission; African Women’s Development governance challenges, leadership inertia and, more and Communication Network; Anti-Corruption Trust of importantly, corruption. There is mounting evidence Southern Africa; Botswana Centre for Public Integrity; that corruption, labelled in its varied forms as state Botswana Institute of Development and Policy capture and grand and petty corruption, is the root of Analysis; Center for Excellence International Consult; the resource haemorrhage from Africa, engendering Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa rent-seeking and unproductive behaviour, capital (COMESA); Commonwealth Africa Anti-Corruption flight, misallocation and misappropriation of scarce Centre; Deloitte; Electoral Commissions Forum of resources, missed investment opportunities, retarded SADC Countries; International Institute for Democracy growth, deteriorating social services, worsening and Electoral Assistance; Directorate on Corruption inequalities and a poor governance culture in African and Economic Offences (Lesotho); German Agency for economies. All of these undermine the goal of International Cooperaion; International Organization economic transformation in Southern Africa and in for Migration (IOM); Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Africa, in general. München; Malawi Revenue Authority; New African magazine; Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa; The regional conference has provided a platform for Pan-African Citizens Network; Ports Management rigorous intellectual debate and policy dialogue on the Authority for Eastern and Southern Africa; Ministry of issue of corruption in Southern Africa and how it could Public Enterprises (Namibia); Produce Africa; SADC; be addressed. The conference brought together high- SADC Council of Non-Governmental Organizations; calibre scholars, policymakers, political leaders, civil- Southern Africa Research and Documentation society organizations, and regional and international Centre, Transparency International (Zambia); 2 Report of the Regional Conference on Corruption and the Challenge of Economic Transformation in Southern Africa Tyedo Investments; United Nations Development options Programme (UNDP) (Botswana); United Nations vii. Parallel sessions I, II and III: The economics of Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization corruption (UNESCO); (Botswana), as well as representatives viii. Parallel session IV: Illicit financial flows of media houses from Botswana, Eswatini, Malawi, ix. Parallel session IV: Public information and the Mauritius, Mozambique, South Africa, United Kingdom public sphere of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Zambia. x. Plenary session: Regional and national institutions Representatives of the following ministries and xi. Plenary session: Future perspectives departments of the Government of Botswana xii. Presentation of outcome statement attended the conference: Auditor General’s Office; Bank of Botswana; Botswana Unified Revenue Service; xiii. Closing ceremony Directorate of Intelligence and Security Services; Competition Authority of Botswana; Directorate of 4. Account of proceedings Public Prosecutions; Directorate on Corruption and i. Official opening Economic Crime; House of Chiefs; International Affairs and Cooperation; International Law Enforcement Academy; Investment, Trade and Industry; Mineral The opening session included: introductions of the Resources, Green Technology and Energy Security; dignitaries sitting at the main table; delivery of opening Land Management, Water and Sanitation Services; remarks by Nonofo Molefhi, Minister for Presidential Office of the Ombudsman; Presidential Affairs, Affairs, Governance and Public Administration; Governance and Public Administration; Transport and remarks by Said Adejumobi, Director of the Economic Communications; and Public Procurement and Asset Commission for Africa Subregional Office for Southern Disposal Board Africa and Auguste Ngomo, African Union Regional Delegate for Southern Africa and the Southern African The list of participants is in the annex. Development Community. Mokgweetsi E.K. Masisi, the President of the Republic of Botswana, officially 3. Programme of work opened the regional conference before the delivery of the keynote address by Amos Sawyer, former President The proceedings of the regional conference were of the Republic of Liberia. guided by the following agenda: The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of i. Official opening International Affairs and Cooperation, Gaeimelwe ii. Media briefing Goitsemang, introduced the guests: Mr. Molefhi; iii. Plenary session I: Conceptual and theoretical Mr. Masisi; Slumber Tsogwane, Vice-President of the issues Republic of Botswana; Mr. Sawyer; the Chief Justice iv. Plenary session II: Governance, politics and and; the Minister of Defence, Justice and Security; Mr. corruption Ngomo and Mr. Adejumobi. He also acknowledged the presence of the Permanent Secretary of the v. Round table discussion: Strengthening the Presidential Affairs Ministry, the Director General of the media in the anti-corruption crusade: constraints, Botswana Directorate on Corruption and Economic opportunities and challenges Crime, diplomatic missions, regional heads of anti- vi. Round table discussion: Building coalitions in corruption institutions in Southern Africa, permanent the fight against corruption: lessons and policy secretaries for various ministries in Botswana, senior 3 Report of the Regional Conference on Corruption and the Challenge of Economic Transformation in Southern Africa academics, former Director Generals of Botswana judiciary system, and active media, civil society and Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime, and citizenry underpin the development of a corruption- other distinguished guests and participants free society. He said the regional conference sought to generate fresh ideas, perspectives and policy In his remarks, Mr. Molefhi emphasized that it was recommendations in addressing corruption in an honour for the Government of Botswana to host Southern Africa and the consultative meeting sought such a high-level regional event. He observed that to provide a platform for sharing experiences, best the presence of diverse stakeholders at the meeting practices and lessons learned. The goal was to increase would help in setting targets in the fight against the capacity of national anti-corruption institutions corruption in the region, and would facilitate the in Southern Africa. Furthermore, the consultative sharing and exchange of views, counsel, guidance meeting also sought to consider the establishment and direction in addressing its economic costs. The of a network of anti-corruption institutions in the Minister advised that Botswana was open to hosting region as a platform to strengthen the fight against such meetings as they enabled the country to learn corruption. from its peers. He implored participants to be candid, objective and truthful as they discussed corruption in Mr. Ngomo thanked the President and the Batswana their own countries and encouraged participants to people for the warm hospitality