The Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime which wields draconian powers under recently adopted legislation is beginning to show its teeth. During the past week a number of highly influential businessmen have paid penalty taxes under the Sales Tax Act as a result of investigations by the Directorate. A number of civil servants, including a police officer and two members of the Botswana Defence Force have been charged with theft of government property, obtaining money by false pretences, conspiracy to defraud the government and fraud. Further charges have been laid against three expatriate school teachers who allegedly leaked school examination papers to students last year. Whilst the Directorate is still criticised for not having landed any "big fish" there is little doubt that their efforts are at least curbing what was becoming a serious culture of corruption.
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