Source: http://www.deathpenaltyworldwide.org/country-search-post.cfm?country=Botswana
Timestamp: 2019-04-23 03:52:21+00:00

Document:
Retentionist.  This question was last updated on January 7, 2019.
 BBC, Country Profile: Botswana, http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-13040376, Apr. 3, 2018.
 U.N., Methodology: Standard country or area codes for statistical use (M49), https://unstats.un.org/unsd/methodology/m49/overview/, last accessed Mar. 18, 2019.
 Amnesty Intl., Death Sentences and Executions in 2016, p. 5, ACT 50/5740/2017, Apr. 11, 2017.
 The Penal Code of Botswana, sec. 26(1), Jun. 10, 1964, as updated through to 2005.
 Botswana Defence Force Act, sec. 128(a), Apr. 15, 1977, as updated through to 2014.
 Letsweletse Mogakolodi Martin Dingake, affiliated with Dingake Law Partners, email to DPW, DPW Botswana Doc. E-1, Mar. 21, 2018.
 Amnesty International, Death sentences and executions in 2016, p. 5, ACT 50/5740/2017, Apr. 11, 2017. See European Union External Action, Statement by the Spokesperson on the execution of Patrick Gabaakanye in Botwana, http://eeas.europa.eu/statements-eeas/2016/160525_08_en.htm, May 25, 2016.
 Amnesty Intl., Death Sentences and Executions in 2014, p. 5, ACT 50/001/2015, Mar. 31, 2015.
 Amnesty Intl., Death Sentences and Executions in 2013, p. 7, ACT 50/001/2014, Mar. 27, 2014. Mtokozisi Dube, Botswana man on 6 death sentences executed, Africa Review, http://www.africareview.com/News/Botswana-man-on-six-death-sentences-executed-/-/979180/1864808/-/yppj9z/-/index.html, May 28, 2013.
 Amnesty Intl., Death Sentences and Executions in 2012, p. 9, ACT 50/001/2013, Apr. 10, 2013.
 Africanews, Botswana hangs man who murdered girlfriend and son in 2010, http://www.africanews.com/2018/02/19/botswana-hangs-man-who-murdered-girlfriend-and-son-in-2010/, Feb. 19, 2018. Abdur Rahman Alfa Shaban, Botswana hangs man convicted of murder and robbery in 2015, Africanews, http://www.africanews.com/2018/05/25/botswana-hangs-man-convicted-of-murder-and-robbery-in-2015//, May 25, 2018.
Aiding the enemy,  cowardly behavior,  mutiny involving violence or the threat of violence,  and failure to suppress mutiny with the intent to assist the enemy  are crimes punishable by death.
Unsure. Botswana does not have a mandatory death penalty for murder or treason, but it may retain a mandatory death penalty for aggravated piracy.
The Penal Code and Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act state that courts can exercise discretion when extenuating circumstances exist in cases of murder and treason,  and in delivering a non-capital sentence for murder, courts should but need not specify any extenuating circumstances.  This suggests that courts have discretion in sentencing. Domestic court rulings and rulings by the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights indicate that in Botswana, courts must consider mitigating and aggravating circumstances relevant to an offender’s culpability and moral blameworthiness in committing the specific offense.  This indicates some discretion in sentencing.
 The Penal Code of Botswana, secs. 202, 203(1), 204, Jun. 10, 1964.
 The Penal Code of Botswana, sec. 34, Jun. 10, 1964.
 The Penal Code of Botswana, sec. 35, Jun. 10, 1964.
 The Penal Code of Botswana, secs. 34, 35, 40, Jun. 10, 1964.
 Botswana Defence Force Act, sec. 28, Apr. 15, 1977.
 Botswana Defence Force Act, sec. 27, Apr. 15, 1977.
 Botswana Defence Force Act, sec. 29, Apr. 15, 1977.
 Botswana Defence Force Act, sec. 34, Apr. 15, 1977.
 Botswana Defence Force Act, sec. 35, Apr. 15, 1977.
 The Penal Code of Botswana, secs. 62, 63(2), Jun. 10, 1964.
 The Penal Code of Botswana, secs. 34, 35, 40, 202, 203, Jun. 10, 1964; Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act of Botswana, sec. 290(1)(iv), Jan. 1, 1939.
 Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act of Botswana, sec. 290(1)(iv), Jan. 1, 1939.
 Intl. Federation for Human Rights & The Botswana Centre for Human Rights, The Death Penalty in Botswana Hasty and Secretive Hangings: International Fact-Finding Mission, pp. 22, 23, no. 473/2, Jun. 25, 2007; Interights v. Botswana, Communication 240 of 2001, African Commn. on Human and Peoples' Rights, 2003.
 Intl. Federation for Human Rights & The Botswana Centre for Human Rights, The Death Penalty in Botswana Hasty and Secretive Hangings: International Fact-Finding Mission, p. 19, no. 473/2, Jun. 25, 2007; Roger Hood & Carolyn Hoyle, The Death Penalty: A Worldwide Perspective, p. 280, Oxford University Press, 4th ed., 2008.
 U.N. ICCPR Human Rights Committee, Consideration of Reports Submitted by States Parties Under Article 40 of the Covenant, pp. 3-4, U.N. Doc. CCPR/C/BWA/CO/1, Apr. 24, 2008.
 Kobedi v. State, p. 39, 44-45, Criminal Appeal no. 25 of 201, BWCA 22, Ct. of Appeal of Botswana, Mar. 19, 2003.
 Bosch v. State, Criminal Appeal No. 37 of 1999, Ct. of Appeal of Botswana, Jan. 30, 2001; Interights et al. v. Botswana, para. 31, Communication no. 240/2001, African Commn. on Human and People’s Rights, 2003.
 The Botswana Centre for Human Rights, Death Penalty, http://www.DITSHWANELO.org.bw/death_penalty.html, last accessed Jun. 1, 2010.
 Intl. Federation for Human Rights & The Botswana Centre for Human Rights, The Death Penalty in Botswana Hasty and Secretive Hangings: International Fact-Finding Mission, p. 19, no. 473/2, Jun. 25, 2007.
 See Dube v. State, Criminal Appeal No. 7 of 2001, Ct. of Appeal of Botswana, Jul. 20, 2001; The Queen v. Peter Hughes, paras. 19-20, Appeal No. 91 of 2001, Judicial Comm. of the Privy Council, Mar. 11, 2002; King v. Banda, Court of Criminal Appeal of Sri Lanka, Nov. 19, 1942; Thiruchelvam v. Attorney General, Appeal No. 144 of 1994, Supreme Court of Sri Lanka, Mar. 6, 1995.
 For example, The Death Penalty Project, Fornah v. State, http://www.deathpenaltyproject.org/case_authorities/144, 1975; Keir Starmer & Theodora A. Christou, Human Rights Manual and Sourcebook for Africa, p. 601, British Institute of International and Comparative Law. May 2005.
 The Penal Code of Botswana, secs. 11, 12(2)-(5), 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 62, 63(2), Jun. 10, 1964.
 According to sections 34 and 35, treason is punishable by death subject to section 40, which provides an alternate sentence of 15 to 25 years of imprisonment. According to section 203(1), murder is punishable by death, subject to section 203(2), which allows any other sentence than death in the case of extenuating circumstances. Further, section 203(3) broadly explains how extenuating circumstances can be determined in the case of simple murder. The Penal Code of Botswana, secs. 34, 35, 40, 202-204, Jun. 10, 1964.
 DITSHWANELO: The Botswana Centre for Human Rights, Death Penalty, http://www.DITSHWANELO.org.bw/death_penalty.html, last accessed Jun. 1, 2010.
 Kobedi v. State, p. 39, Criminal Appeal no. 25 of 201, BWCA 22, Ct. of Appeal of Botswana, Mar. 19, 2003.
 The Penal Code of Botswana, secs. 62, 63, Jun. 10, 1964.
 Abdur Rahman Alfa Shaban, Botswana hangs man convicted of murder and robbery in 2015, http://www.africanews.com/2018/05/25/botswana-hangs-man-convicted-of-murder-and-robbery-in-2015//, May 25, 2018.
 Intl. Federation for Human Rights, Botswana continues with cruel and regressive execution, https://www.fidh.org/en/issues/death-penalty/botswana-continues-with-cruel-and-regressive-execution, Feb. 19, 2018.
 Mmegi Online, Gabaakanye executed, http://www.mmegi.bw/index.php?aid=60216&dir=2016/may/25, May 25, 2016.
 Mtokozisi Dube, Botswana man on six death sentences executed, Africa Review, http://www.africareview.com/news/Botswana-man-on-six-death-sentences-executed-/979180-1864808-uf39rsz/index.html, May 28, 2013.
 Mmegi Online, Death Row inmate hanged, http://www.mmegi.bw/index.php?sid=1&aid=270&dir=2012%2FFebruary%2FWednesday1, Feb. 1, 2012.
 Maranyane Ngwanaamotho, Fly’s secretive execution wrong – DITSHWANELO, Mmegi Online, http://www.mmegi.bw/index.php?sid=1&aid=1272&dir=2010/March/Friday26, Mar. 26, 2010.
 Nehanda Radio, Killer Zimbabwean hanged in Botswana, http://nehandaradio.com/2010/01/05/killer-zimbabwean-hanged-in-botswana/, Jan. 5, 2010.
 Daily News, Tsobane executed, http://www.gov.bw/cgi-bin/news.cgi?d=20080925&i=Tsobane_executed, Sep. 25, 2008.
 The Penal Code of Botswana, secs. 26(2), 32(1), Jun. 10, 1964, as updated through to 2005. Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act of Botswana, sec. 304, Jan. 1, 1939, as updated through to 2005.
 The Penal Code of Botswana, sec. 13(1), Jun. 10, 1964, as updated through to 2005.
 The Penal Code of Botswana, sec. 13(2). Jun. 10, 1964, as updated through to 2005.
 The Penal Code of Botswana, secs. 26(3), 32, Jun. 10, 1964, as updated through to 2005. Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act of Botswana, sec. 298, Jan. 1, 1939, as updated through to 2005.
 Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act of Botswana, sec. 298, Jan. 1, 1939, as updated through to 2005.
 The Penal Code of Botswana, secs. 26(3), 32(1), Jun. 10, 1964, as updated through to 2005.
 The Penal Code of Botswana, secs. 11, 32(1), Jun. 10, 1964, as updated through to 2005.
 The Penal Code of Botswana, secs. 11, 32, Jun. 10, 1964, as updated through to 2005.
 Status, Declarations, and Reservations, ICCPR, 999 U.N.T.S. 171, Dec. 16, 1966, http://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=IV-4&chapter=4〈=en, last accessed Dec. 5, 2017.
 Status, Declarations, and Reservations, Optional Prot. to the ICCPR, 999 U.N.T.S. 171, Dec. 16, 1966, http://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=IV-5&chapter=4〈=en, last accessed Dec. 5, 2017.
 Status, Declarations, and Reservations, Optional Prot. to the ICCPR, 999 U.N.T.S. 171, Dec. 16, 1966, https://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=IV-5&chapter=4&clang=_en, last accessed Dec. 5, 2017.
 Status, Declarations, and Reservations, Second Optional Prot. to the ICCPR, Aiming at the Abolition of the Death Penalty, 1642 U.N.T.S. 414, Dec. 15, 1989, http://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=IV-12&chapter=4〈=en, last accessed Dec. 5, 2017.
 African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, Ratification Table: African Charter on Human and People’s Rights, http://www.achpr.org/instruments/achpr/ratification, last accessed Jul. 18, 2018.
 African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, Ratification Table: Protocol to the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa, http://www.achpr.org/instruments/women-protocol/ratification, last accessed Jul. 18, 2018.
 African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, Ratification Table: African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, http://www.achpr.org/instruments/child/ratification/, last accessed on Jul. 18, 2018.
 African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, Ratification Table: African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, http://www.achpr.org/instruments/child/ratification/, last accessed Jul. 18, 2018.
 African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, Ratification Table: African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, http://www.achpr.org/instruments/child/ratification, last accessed Jul. 14, 2018.
 U.N.G.A., 71st Session, Promotion and Protection of Human Rights: human rights questions, including alternative approaches for improving the effective enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms, paras. 54–71, U.N. Doc. A/71/484/Add.2, Dec. 6, 2016.
 U.N.G.A., 71st Session, Promotion and protection of human rights: human rights questions, including alternative approaches for improving the effective enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms, paras. 54-71, U.N. Doc. A/71/484/Add.2, Dec. 6, 2016.
 U.N.G.A., 71st Session, Note Verbale dated 7 September 2017, U.N. Doc A/71/1047, Sep. 13, 2017.
 U.N.G.A., 71st Session, Promotion and protection of human rights: human rights questions, including alternative approaches for improving the effective enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms, paras. 141, 144, U.N. Doc. A/69/488/Add.2, Dec. 8, 2014.
According to the Constitution of Botswana, “No person shall be deprived of his or her life intentionally save in execution of the sentence of a court in respect of an offence under the law in force in Botswana of which he or she has been convicted”,  thus implicitly stating that the death penalty may be permissible in some circumstances. This question was last updated on March 15, 2019.
There is currently no official moratorium on executions.  This question was last updated on January 7, 2019.
The Southern African Legal Information Institute publishes decisions of the High Court of Botswana  and the Court of Appeal.  The databases contain decisions from 2006 (High Court) and 1981 (Court of Appeal) and onward. Links to these resources are consolidated at http://www.commonlii.org/resources/2676.html, where a number of legal resources on Botswana are available.
 The Constitution of Botswana, sec. 4(1), Sep. 30, 1966, as updated through to 2006.
 The Constitution of Botswana, Sep. 30, 1966, as updated through to 2006.
 Intl. Federation for Human Rights & The Botswana Centre for Human Rights, The Death Penalty in Botswana Hasty and Secretive Hangings: International Fact-Finding Mission, p. 18, no. 473/2, Jun. 25, 2007.
 Maranyane Ngwanaamotho, Fly’s secretive execution wrong – DITSHWANELO, Mmegi Online, http://www.mmegi.bw/index.php?sid=1&aid=1272&dir=2010/March/Friday26, Mar. 26, 2010; The Zimdiaspora, Zimbabwean murderer hanged in Botswana, http://www.zimdiaspora.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2489:zimbabwean-murderer-hanged-in-botswana&catid=38:travel-tips&Itemid=18, Dec. 24, 2009; Daily News, Tsobane executed, http://www.gov.bw/cgi-bin/news.cgi?d=20080925&i=Tsobane_executed, Sep. 25, 2008.
 Ntesang v. State, p. 16, Criminal Appeal no. 57 of 1994, BWCA 12, Ct. of Appeal of Botswana, Jun. 1, 2010.
 Ntesang v. State, p. 17, Criminal Appeal no. 57 of 1994, BWCA 12, Ct. of Appeal of Botswana, Jun. 1, 2010.
 Roger Hood & Carolyn Hoyle, The Death Penalty: A Worldwide Perspective, p. 221, Oxford University Press, 4th ed., 2008; Amnesty Intl., The Death Penalty Worldwide: Developments in 1999, p. 18, ACT 50/004/2000, Mar. 31, 2000.
 Kobedi v. State, p. 38, Criminal Appeal no. 25 of 201, BWCA 22, Ct. of Appeal of Botswana, Mar. 19, 2003.
 Kobedi v. State, p. 64, Criminal Appeal no. 25 of 201, BWCA 22, Ct. of Appeal of Botswana, Mar. 19, 2003.
 Southern African Legal Information Institute, http://www.saflii.org/bw/cases/BWHC/, last accessed May 25, 2010.
 Southern African Legal Information Institute, http://www.saflii.org/bw/cases/BWCA/, last accessed May 25, 2010.
 Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act of Botswana, secs. 299, 327, Jan. 1, 1939; Constitution of Botswana, sec. 53, Sep. 30, 1966.
 Constitution of Botswana, sec. 55, Sep. 30, 1966.
 Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act of Botswana, sec. 299, Jan. 1, 1939.
 Constitution of Botswana, secs. 54, 55, Sep. 30, 1966.
 Constitution of Botswana, sec. 54, Sep. 30, 1966.
 Roger Hood & Carolyn Hoyle, The Death Penalty: A Worldwide Perspective, p. 265, Oxford University Press, 4th ed., 2008.
 U.S. Dept. of State, 2009 Human Rights Report: Botswana, http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2009/af/135939.htm, Mar. 11, 2010.
 Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act of Botswana, secs. 182, 291, Jan. 1, 1939.
 Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act of Botswana, secs. 78, 82, Jan. 1, 1939.
 Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act of Botswana, sec. 97, Jan. 1, 1939; Intl. Federation for Human Rights & The Botswana Centre for Human Rights, The Death Penalty in Botswana Hasty and Secretive Hangings: International Fact-Finding Mission, pp. 19-20, no. 473/2, Jun. 25, 2007.
 Constitution of Botswana, sec. 106, Sep. 30, 1966.
We were unable to find any reports of foreign nationals on death row.
We were unable to find any reports of women on death row.
 Intl. Federation for Human Rights, Secretive and Hasty Hangings in Botswana: Preliminary conclusions of the joint FIDH & DITSHWANELO report, p. 2, http://www.fidh.org/Secretive-and-hasty-hangings-in-Botswana, Oct. 10, 2006.
 U.N.G.A. Human Rights Council, National Report Submitted in Accordance with Paragraph 15 (A) of the Annex to Human Rights Council Resolution 5/1, p. 17, U.N. Doc. A/HRC/WG.6/3/BWA/1, Sep. 5, 2008.
 U.N. ICCPR Human Rights Committee, Consideration of Reports Submitted by States Parties Under Article 40 of the Covenant, pp. 4-5, U.N. Doc. CCPR/C/BWA/CO/1, Apr. 24, 2008; U.S. Dept. of State, 2009 Human Rights Report: Botswana, http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2009/af/135939.htm, Mar. 11, 2010.
 U.N.G.A. Human Rights Council, Universal Periodic Review: Report of the Working Group of the Universal Periodic Review, p. 20, U.N. Doc. A/HRC/10/69, Jan. 13, 2009.
 Morula Morula, Death penalty sours relations between Botswana and South Africa, Sunday Standard, http://www.zimdiaspora.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2489:zimbabwean-murderer-hanged-in-botswana&catid=38:travel-tips&Itemid=18, Mar. 28, 2010.
 The Penal Code of Botswana, secs. 26(2), 32, Jun. 10, 1964; Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act of Botswana, sec. 304, Jan. 1, 1939.
 U.S. Dept. of State, 2009 Human Rights Report: Botswana, http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2009/af/135939.htm, Mar. 11, 2010; Amnesty Intl., Death Sentences and Executions in 2009, p. 6, ACT 50/001/2010, Mar. 30, 2010.
 Bame Piet, Keganne Sentenced to Death, Mmegi Online, http://mmegi.bw/index.php?sid=1&aid=58&dir=2008/August/Monday18, Aug. 18, 2008; The Botswana Gazette, Two to Die for Murder of Alleged Robber and Killer, http://www.gazettebw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=470:two-to-die-for-murder-of-alleged-robber-and-killer&catid=18:headlines&Itemid=2, Mar. 11, 2008; Arabile Mosikare, Mine duo sentenced to death, The Botswana Gazette, http://www.gazettebw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4547:mine-duo-sentenced-to-death&catid=19:northcast&Itemid=2, Dec. 1, 2009.
 Rules of the High Court of Botswana, Order 68(4)(1)(c), May 19, 2008.
 Court of Appeal Rules of Botswana, rule 48, Apr. 25, 1975.
 Intl. Federation for Human Rights & The Botswana Centre for Human Rights, The Death Penalty in Botswana Hasty and Secretive Hangings: International Fact-Finding Mission, p. 15, no. 473/2, Jun. 25, 2007.
 Intl. Federation for Human Rights & The Botswana Centre for Human Rights, The Death Penalty in Botswana Hasty and Secretive Hangings: International Fact-Finding Mission, p. 25, no. 473/2, Jun. 25, 2007.
 Kobedi v. State, p. 63, Criminal Appeal no. 25 of 201, Ct. of Appeal of Botswana, Mar. 19, 2003.
 U.N. ICCPR Human Rights Committee, Consideration of Reports Submitted by States Parties Under Article 40 of the Covenant of the Human Rights Committee, pp. 3-4, U.N. Doc. CCPR/C/BWA/CO/1, Apr. 24, 2008.
 U.N.G.A. Human Rights Council, Universal Periodic Review: Report of the Working Group of the Universal Periodic Review, p. 19, U.N. Doc. A/HRC/10/69, Jan. 13, 2009.
 U.N.G.A. Human Rights Council, Universal Periodic Review: Report of the Working Group of the Universal Periodic Review, p. 17, U.N. Doc. A/HRC/10/69, Jan. 13, 2009.
DITSHWANELO - The Botswana Centre for Human Rights, Botswana Stakeholder Report to the Universal Periodic Review (Second Cycle), http://lib.ohchr.org/HRBodies/UPR/Documents/Session15/BW/JS1_UPR_BWA_S15_2012_JointSubmission1_E.pdf, Jul. 9, 2012.
Intl. Federation for Human Rights & The Botswana Centre for Human Rights, The Death Penalty in Botswana Hasty and Secretive Hangings: International Fact-Finding Mission, No. 473/2, Jun. 25, 2007.
Intl. Federation for Human Rights, The Death Penalty in Botswana - Hasty and Secretive Hangings, N° 473/2, http://tcadp.org/TexasDeathPenaltyDevelopments2010.pdf, Jun. 2007.
Elizabeth Maxwell and Alice Mogwe, In the Shadow of the Noose, DITSHWANELO, 2006.

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