Vission 2016 and reforming the intelligence in Botswana

Abstract

The Botswana government proposed to the national parliament the setting up of an enlarged intelligence agency known as the Directorate of Intelligence and Security. It drafted and published in the Government Gazette, an Intelligence and Security Service Bill which was placed before Parliament which deferred and later approved it. However, its passing brought to the surface deep seated mistrust between cabinet and the back bench. On the other hand and in line with the country's Vision 2016 roadmap, civil society organised debates in which academics, media practioners and parliament backbenchers questioned the necessity of the reforms, the structure of the proposed agency and the timing of the bill. Taking vision 2016 as a benchmark, this article critiques the Intelligence and Security bill and provides insight that could help future reforms. Its main argument is that the proposed Intelligence and Securrity Services bill Bill and Law contradict Vision 2016 in many fundamental ways. Its other argument is that the Bill and Law contradict the emerging trends in leading democracies in the region and abroad.