Botswana: Competition watchdog to be split in two

Reports have confirmed that Botswana’s Competition Commission will soon be split into two separate entities following concerns of the authority’s dual roles.

Part of the Competition Commission will be split into a new regulatory body to be known as the Competition Authority, say reports. Under law, the Commission has the power over both strategic direction as well as certain judicial functions.

Now, however, reports say that the Ministry of Trade and Industry has granted permission for the government to proceed with a motion for an amendment to the nation’s competition act that will alter the way competition policy is carried out, leading to a split of the Commission so certain powers are separated.

Competition Commission Chairman Dr. Zein Kebonang said he supports the efforts and has previously called for the separation of the body – an adjudication body, and a board for governance-related activities. Zebonang had raised the issue of possible bias when the two powers are mixed into the same authority, reports say.

Full content: Botswana Gazette

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