Rights activists challenge Botswana’s continued use of death penalty

The death penalty remains a sensitive and divisive issue in Botswana.

Human rights activists have continued to push for debate on whether capital punishment should remain on the statute books.

Former Judge Doctor Unity Dow says communities need to have a more honest conversation on the issue.

“But most importantly, do you realise that the death penalty is the only sentence where we actually do exactly what the person did to others? So you don’t rape rapists, you don’t strangle people who strangle other people, you don’t break into houses because they broke into yours.

You sit down rationally, assess the evidence, and come up with an appropriate sentence.

But in the death penalty, we actually decide, you killed one of our own, we are going to kill you.

So the question is, how rational is that?” Botswana is also grappling with a debate over same-sex marriage and what it means for traditional concepts of family.

Doctor Dow also says attitudes are changing, adding that the conversation should focus on both the benefits and potential harm of changing the law.

“I think often when you engage in these issues, you must always ask the question, what is the good that’s being promoted here? I think stability, love, you know, is important.

On the other hand, what is the harm that you think is going to be promoted by these two women getting married? People, you know, like they realise there really is no harm to me, you know, to society.

So I think a conversation needs to continue around what is family.” VIDEO | Call for human rights protection in Africa