The Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC) has said it is handicapped in carrying out some of its mandate because of legal limitations.

Senior Assistant DCEC director of prosecutions, Annah Mphetlhe said yesterday that the law does not allow them to use certain investigation methods like tapping cellular phone messages. "Normally corruption is carried out through the use of cell phones. Therefore we have to approach courts of law to have the permission to do so," Mphetlhe explained.She added that DCEC has the power to arrest after they have collected enough evidence against a suspect.

DCEC is hosting a delegation from China on a benchmarking trip on corruption and economic crime prevention. The Chinese delegation is headed by the Vice Minister of Supervision and deputy director of the national bureau of corruption and prevention, Qu Wanxiang. The acting DCEC director, Botlhale Makgekgenene said they are delighted that the Chinese view Botswana as a less corrupt country and conducive for doing business, exchange of information, fighting corruption and establishing areas of cooperation. She said even though Botswana is less corrupt, DCEC cannot afford to be complacent. She explained that there is no political motive in every case that they handle. Makgekgenene said that due to the limited number of personnel, some of their staff are over-stretched in their respective fields.

She revealed that currently each of their investigators is handling about 21 cases. Rose Seretse was recently appointed as new DCEC director. Seretse has been acting in the post after the retirement of Tymon Katlholo who left in April this year. Her deputy is yet to be appointed.