Justice minister wants correctional laws overhaul
Pini Bothoko | Wednesday September 17, 2025 06:00
Ramaotwana was speaking yesterday (Monday) when he officially opened the Botswana Prison Service’s Pitso on legislative reforms at the Prison Officers Mess in Village, Gaborone.
The national gathering, themed 'Reimagining Custodial Care and Correctional Services for Botswana', brought together stakeholders to reflect on the country’s correctional framework and propose changes to the Prisons Act of 1980.
“It is an honour for me to officiate at the opening of this Pitso, which seeks to discuss how we as a nation can improve our laws and policies relating to imprisonment, correction, and treatment of offenders. This platform will allow citizens to recommend reforms that will reflect national values in the management, care, and custody of offenders, ' he said.
Ramaotwana emphasised that the Prisons Act has not undergone a comprehensive review in more than four decades, despite dramatic changes in society.
“The Prisons Act was passed in March 1980, and a lot has changed since then. Botswana has seen many developments, including the conceptualisation of Vision 2016 and now Vision 2036. These national Visions embody the passion, values, and aspirations of our nation. Our laws, particularly those relating to correctional services, must therefore be updated to reflect this evolution,' he said.
The minister explained that reform is not needed simply because the law is outdated, but because societies evolve. He stated that 'as we evolve as a nation, we must pause and reflect on circumstances that necessitate changes to the law'.
Ramaotwana further underscored the government’s human rights-centric approach, stressing that incarceration should not equate to the denial of rights. “Botswana recognises that incarceration does not necessarily mean denial of human rights. The law must reflect values of justice, fairness, and rehabilitation rather than just punishment,' he said.
Furthermore, the minister further outlined his vision of a correctional system that not only enforces sentences but also rehabilitates offenders.
“My understanding of a correctional system is that it must support the criminal justice process by keeping offenders away from society for the duration given by courts. But beyond that, it must correct criminal tendencies so that offenders are ready to re-enter society as law-abiding citizens,” he said.
He stressed that correctional facilities should equip offenders with both vocational and life skills to ensure they leave prisoners empowered and capable of contributing to the economy.
“This Pitso must therefore look into ways of enhancing offender correction,” he added.
Ramaotwana challenged participants to consider the treatment of offenders, including rights and privileges in correctional facilities.
“This will determine how we define the rights to decency, health, and general humane treatment of offenders. I urge you to fully apply yourselves so that the reflections from this Pitso help shape a law that embodies our national values of justice and correction,' he said.
The Pitso is expected to produce recommendations that will guide the government in drafting reforms to the Prisons Act, ensuring Botswana’s correctional services are modern, humane, and aligned with Vision 2036.