Anti-Corruption March against CEDA

Gaborone, South East Botswana, Botswana.

Since Novemeber 18, 2024 to November 29, 2024. The action began with a march around the city center and ended with the organizers being arrested. A court case followed, which protesters won on the 29th.

The protest was driven by allegations of corruption within the Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency (CEDA), a government institution responsible for providing financial support to entrepreneurs in Botswana. A whistle-blower, Tshwanelang, publicly accused CEDA’s Chief Executive Officer, Thabo Thamane, and the agency’s brand ambassador, Sonny Serite, of being involved in corrupt activities within the organization. These allegations generated significant public concern about accountability and transparency in the management of public funds.

As part of his efforts to draw attention to the issue, Tshwanelang organized a protest march in the city centre together with other concerned citizens. The group marched to the Ministry of Trade and Entrepreneurship to deliver a petition calling for action and accountability regarding the corruption allegations. The protest aimed to pressure relevant authorities to address the claims and ensure that public institutions operate transparently and in the interest of citizens. Following the protest, CEDA’s legal team filed an application accusing Tshwanelang of being in contempt of court and sought a 30-day imprisonment sentence.

The intended outcome of the protest was to raise awareness about alleged corruption within the Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency (CEDA) and to demand accountability from those responsible for managing public funds in Botswana. By marching to the Ministry of Trade and Entrepreneurship and delivering a petition, demonstrators aimed to encourage transparency and official action. The protest also reflected broader public demands for stronger anti-corruption measures, consistent with commitments made by President Duma Boko to strengthen oversight and prevent graft in government institutions.

The protest took the form of a civilian-led demonstration organized by a group of concerned citizens in Botswana. Participants gathered in the city center and conducted a peaceful march through the area to raise public awareness about alleged corruption within the Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency (CEDA). The demonstration was intended to publicly express dissatisfaction with the leadership of the institution and to call for accountability from officials accused of wrongdoing.

During the course of the protest, tensions arose between the organizers and authorities due to ongoing legal disputes related to the allegations. The organizers were eventually arrested, which further intensified public attention surrounding the protest and the corruption claims.

Gen Z participants described the action as a way to speak out against corruption and demand accountability from public institutions in Botswana. They framed the protest as a civic effort to defend transparency and protect public resources managed by the Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency. For many young participants, the march symbolized the responsibility of citizens to challenge alleged wrongdoing, raise awareness, and push authorities to investigate claims involving officials.

Central values in the protesters’ communication included transparency, accountability, and integrity in public institutions in Botswana. Participants emphasized the need for responsible management of public funds and called for investigations into corruption allegations within government institutions Key demands included accountability from individuals accused of wrongdoing as well as stronger oversight mechanisms to prevent corruption. Protesters framed their claims around good governance and fairness in the use of public resources.

The protesters were primarily trying to reach government authorities and oversight institutions in Botswana, particularly the Ministry of Trade and Entrepreneurship, which oversees the Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency (CEDA). By marching to the ministry and delivering a petition, they aimed to pressure decision-makers to acknowledge the corruption allegations and take concrete action. They were also addressing the broader public to raise awareness about the claims made by against CEDA officials. The response they sought was an official investigation into the allegations, stronger accountability measures within public institutions, and greater transparency in the management of public funds.

The protest was primarily framed by media and authorities as a legal and public dispute centered on the actions of Tshwanelang against the Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency (CEDA). Coverage emphasized the court battles over interim interdicts and contempt of court applications rather than the underlying corruption allegations. Authorities and some media sources portrayed the action as a challenge to legal orders, focusing on arrests and potential penalties, while largely framing the protest as a contentious civic action rather than solely a campaign for transparency and anti-corruption reforms.

This framing was promoted mainly by government authorities, CEDA officials, and mainstream media outlets in Botswana. Government statements and court proceedings were emphasized in news reports, highlighting arrests, legal challenges, and contempt of court applications. Mainstream newspapers, radio, and online news platforms disseminated this perspective, often focusing on the legal dispute rather than the protesters’ claims. Political actors and institutional representatives reinforced the narrative through official press releases and public statements, framing the action as a contentious challenge to established legal orders rather than a civic movement calling for transparency and accountability.

Counter-narratives have emerged challenging the dominant framing of the protest. Tshwanelang and supporters emphasize that the action is a legitimate civic effort to expose corruption within the Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency (CEDA) and demand accountability from officials. Social media posts, community discussions, and activist statements frame the protest as a fight for transparency and good governance rather than a legal violation, highlighting the importance of whistle-blowers and citizen participation in challenging mismanagement of public resources. These counter-narratives seek to shift public perception from a focus on arrests and legal disputes to the substantive issues of corruption and accountability.

The counter-narratives appear to have increased public awareness and support for the protest and its underlying anti-corruption message. By framing the action as a legitimate civic effort to expose wrongdoing, supporters have challenged the dominant narrative that focused on legal disputes and arrests, boosting the perceived legitimacy of the whistle-blower Tshwanelang and the broader citizen movement. At the same time, these narratives have put pressure on authorities to respond to corruption claims while exposing attempts to suppress dissent, though they may also have heightened tensions between protesters and institutions. Overall, the competing framing has strengthened public discourse on accountability and transparency.