Intervene early, don't rely on death penalty—Boko
Opelo Rakereng | Wednesday December 17, 2025 06:22
He was speaking whilst addressing a Kgotla in Kanye yesterday.
Speaking on national issues, President Boko emphasised starting interventions at the family level, calling for parents to instill discipline in young boys as a primary weapon against GBV. “We must grow our fight against violence from home,” Boko said, highlighting how early guidance could prevent cycles of violence.
The President advocated closer collaboration between social workers and Dikgosi to spot issues at an early stage. By working together, he urged that they could intervene before incidents escalate to severe violence or death. This partnership, Boko noted, would leverage local knowledge to address root causes proactively.
Boko further said that adapting traditional ways to groom young boys would steer them away from violent tendencies as they grow. He linked passion killings with often sensationalised murders stemming from intimate partner disputes to improper grooming, especially amongst young boys.
Critically, Boko challenged the effectiveness of the death penalty, Botswana’s longstanding punishment for murder, including passion killings. “The death penalty has not removed the issue of GBV; we now have to go with other initiatives by addressing issues at an early age and stage,” Boko declared.
President Boko’s remarks come amidst the national debate on capital punishment and GBV prevention. Botswana retains the death penalty, with several executions carried out in recent years.
Boko’s positions align with his Umbrella for Democratic Change government push for social reforms. In closing, the President highlighted that he does not come to the nation with a solution, but rather seeks the nation and relevant authorities to come together and find common ground.