BOTSWANA SAYS DEATH PENALTY REMAINS IN EFFECT

October 17, 2013: Botswana’s Government has maintained that the overturned five death sentences this year does not signal the practice will be abolished.
The appellate court in Gaborone saved four men who faced death penalties for domestic violence cases while the other was a traditional healer who was convicted for murdering a female client.
Reports followed that this signalled the end of capital punishment in the southern African country.
However, Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has stressed that death sentence remains in effect.
“The death penalty remains in force,” read part of DPP’s press statement.
However, Ministry of Defence, Justice and Security secretary Madoda Nasha, sang a more toned down tune saying the government is not opposed to opening a national dialogue on the same. (Sources: africareview.com, 17/10/2013)