CA seeks to tighten screws on cartels

Morotsi
Morotsi

The department of legal and enforcement at the Competition Authority (CA) is pushing for the amendment of the competition law in order to criminalise bid-rigging in the country.

Currently, bid-rigging is not a criminal conduct under Botswana laws, according to Duncan Morotsi, director of legal and enforcement. Giving a presentation at the national bid-rigging workshop that was held in Gaborone on Tuesday, he said the law should be amended to punish those officials found to be engaged in aiding or abetting the conduct.

Morotsi noted that the Competition Act prohibits horizontal agreements, directly or indirectly fixing a purchasing or selling price or dividing markets by allocating customers, suppliers territories or specific type of goods. It also prohibits bid-rigging, which the director described as “hardcore cartel behaviour”.

Editor's Comment
Botswana at a critical juncture

While the political shift brings hope for change, it also places immense pressure on the new administration to deliver on its election promises in the face of serious economic challenges.On another level, newly appointed Finance Minister Ndaba Gaolathe’s grim assessment of the country’s finances adds urgency to the moment. The budget deficit, expected to be P8.7 billion, is now anticipated to be even higher due to underperforming diamond...

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