Itumeleng Phuthego
Gaborone,GA
Summary
Dynamic senior assistant director with over 25 years of experience in various sectors, including 12 years dedicated to anti-corruption initiatives within government. Demonstrated ability to lead investigations and develop compliance programs that improve accountability and transparency. Achievements include directing significant investigations that resulted in impactful policy changes. Strong background in project management and engineering, with a commitment to enhancing organizational efficiency.
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Senior Assistant Director Anti-corruption
Ministry of Finance Botswana
Gaborone
07.2018 - 06.2023
- Led the Ministry Anti-Corruption Unit, directing efforts to combat corruption effectively.
- Managed investigations into procurement irregularities and the misuse of public funds, ensuring accountability.
- Developed and implemented comprehensive corruption prevention strategies, including public education campaigns and institutional reforms.
- Collaborated with law enforcement, regulatory bodies, and civil society to enhance transparency and accountability processes.
- Provided strategic guidance on compliance, risk management, and ethical governance across the Ministry.
- Coordinated specialized training programs to improve investigative and enforcement capabilities.
- Successfully spearheaded numerous high-profile investigations, resulting in increased government accountability.
- Enhanced collaboration with international anti-corruption agencies, strengthening regional coalitions for greater impact.
- Executed comprehensive compliance programs, significantly reducing instances of procurement fraud.
- Formulated public awareness campaigns that improved citizens' understanding of corruption indicators and reporting channels.
- Achieved recognition from legislative authorities for major contributions to governmental anti-corruption efforts.
- Developed training modules and programs for staff on identifying, preventing, and reporting acts of corruption during service delivery.
Director of Investigations
Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC)
Gaborone
01.2012 - 01.2018
- Directed complex investigations into corruption, fraud, and economic crimes within public institutions, championing ethical conduct.
- Supervised investigative teams, ensuring adherence to robust legal and ethical standards throughout processes.
- Contributed to the development and enforcement of national anti-corruption policies.
- Engaged in public outreach initiatives to promote integrity and ethical conduct across various sectors.
- Coordinated national training workshops on investigative techniques and anti-corruption strategies, enhancing investigator skills.
- Developed annual performance objectives for staff and monitored their progress for continuous improvement.
- Identified skills gaps of investigators and collaborated with relevant institutions to address these through targeted development.
- Led successful investigations that recovered significant public funds, demonstrating effectiveness of strategies employed.
- Influenced policy changes that enhanced national anti-corruption laws, aligning them with international best practices.
- Built strong partnerships with regional law enforcement agencies to bolster investigative capacity, sharing knowledge and resources.
- Increased public reports on corruption through effective outreach programs, fostering a culture of integrity.
- Recognized for exemplary service in advancing the agency’s mission against corruption.
- Developed a training module to assist investigators in identifying and gathering evidence for corruption allegations relating to infrastructure projects.
Chief Project Coordinator
Department of Building Services
Gaborone
06.2010 - 10.2012
- Managed infrastructure development and maintenance projects for government facilities, ensuring high-quality outcomes.
- Coordinated cross-functional teams to guarantee timely and cost-effective project delivery across multiple initiatives.
- Oversaw procurement processes, ensuring compliance with building standards and regulatory frameworks throughout.
- Managed project implementation using the FIDIC contract format, minimising risks and enhancing project controls.
- Provided logistical and administrative support to project teams to streamline construction processes and execution.
- Developed annual performance objectives for staff and monitored their progression to drive performance.
- Identified relevant institutions for skills development of engineers to enhance their operational capabilities during assignments.
- Successfully delivered multiple large-scale projects within budget and ahead of schedule, showcasing effective project management.
- Improved procurement processes, enhancing compliance and quality standards in construction projects through innovation.
- Recognized for streamlining project management processes, leading to increased efficiency and decreased project timelines.
- Implemented innovative construction strategies that reduced operational risks across all projects.
- Achieved high satisfaction ratings from stakeholders through excellent project execution and relationship management.
- Ensured a high level of safety standards during the delivery of all government infrastructure projects, contributing to public safety.
Technical Service Engineer
Diamond Trading Company Botswana (DTCB)
Gaborone
01.2008 - 05.2010
- Provided engineering support for technical systems within diamond processing operations, maintaining operational excellence.
- Maintained and optimized equipment performance to ensure operational efficiency, including security systems and diamond sorting machines.
- Collaborated with production teams to implement safety and quality improvements, enhancing overall productivity.
- Developed preventative maintenance schedules to extend equipment lifespan, minimising downtime.
- Analysed system performance data to identify and resolve technical failures, ensuring seamless operations.
- Developed annual performance objectives for team members and monitored their progress for accountability.
- Implemented maintenance strategies that significantly reduced equipment downtime, facilitating smoother operations.
- Increased operational efficiency through performance optimization, leading to heightened production output.
- Established a reputation for setting quality standards that improved system reliability and integrity.
- Recognized for contributions to safety enhancements within the processing operations, significantly reducing incidents.
- Achieved seamless integration of new technologies that advanced production capabilities and efficiency.
- Managed a team of engineers by overseeing their annual performance objectives to ensure team effectiveness.
- Oversaw a Security Systems Installation upgrade project, consisting of over 500 CCTV cameras, 200+ access doors, and 1000+ intrusion alarm detection points in a multi-story building, successfully delivering under tight schedules and budgets.
Education
Bachelor of Engineering - Electrical and Electronics Engineering
Northumbria University at Newcastle
Newcastle Upon Tyne, U.K09.1997
BTECH Higher National Diploma - Electrical & Electronics Engineering
Northumbria University
Newcastle Upon Tyne, U.K09.1994
City & Guilds Part III - Electrical and Electronics Engineering
Botswana Polytechnic
Gaborone, Botswana11.1989
High School Education - Electrical and Electronics Engineering
Madiba, Secondary School
Gaborone, Botswana08.1983
Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) - Electrical and Electronics Engineering
Sefhare Primary School
Gaborone, Botswana08.1978
Skills
- Electrical engineering
- Building services management
- Security systems installation and maintenance
- Project management
- CCTV and door access control systems
- Diamond sorting technology
- Engineering problem-solving
- Leadership and compliance
- Risk management strategies
- Ethical governance and investigations
Certification
- Certified Professional Engineer, Engineering Registration Board
- Financial Management Program Certificate, Pretoria University Business School, 2009
- Finance for Non Finance Managers Certificate, Botswana Accountancy College
- FIDIC Project management Training
- Executive management Training
- Setting of Key Performance Indicators development (KPI)
Languages
- Tswana
- English
- Tswana
Accomplishments
I was specially acknowledged for playing an active role in identifying and exposed corruption syndicate between some contractors who were collaborating with consulting firms to swindle funds from government through generation of false payment certificates during project implementation in one of the government Mega project.
Timeline
Senior Assistant Director Anti-corruption
Ministry of Finance Botswana
07.2018 - 06.2023
Director of Investigations
Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC)
01.2012 - 01.2018
Chief Project Coordinator
Department of Building Services
06.2010 - 10.2012
Technical Service Engineer
Diamond Trading Company Botswana (DTCB)
01.2008 - 05.2010
Bachelor of Engineering - Electrical and Electronics Engineering
Northumbria University at Newcastle
BTECH Higher National Diploma - Electrical & Electronics Engineering
Northumbria University
City & Guilds Part III - Electrical and Electronics Engineering
Botswana Polytechnic
High School Education - Electrical and Electronics Engineering
Madiba, Secondary School
Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) - Electrical and Electronics Engineering
Sefhare Primary School