When love turns deadly: Botswana’s growing crisis of ‘passion killings’
Pini Bothoko | Monday February 9, 2026 09:16
Each account of a woman killed by her boyfriend, husband, or former partner seems to mark only a brief pause before the next tragedy unfolds.
Despite years of public debate, advocacy, and government interventions, these killings persist as civil society organisations, religious leaders, traditional authorities, and government institutions have repeatedly called for action.
However, men who constitute the majority of perpetrators have been urged to reflect on their behaviour, while parents have been encouraged to instil values of respect, empathy, and non-violence from an early age.
Almost every week, news outlets carry stories of women who have been brutally killed by their partners. In most cases, the victims are girlfriends, wives, or former lovers. Only in a few instances do the perpetrators take their own lives after committing the crime.
Recent incidents once again brought the issue into sharp focus. Over the past weekend, a couple died in a road accident in what police suspect was a love-related murder-suicide after their vehicle collided with a horse and trailer truck.
Investigations alleged that the driver, believed to be the boyfriend, deliberately drove into the oncoming truck, as there were no signs of overtaking or attempts to avoid an obstruction.
Earlier in the week, another young woman was killed by her boyfriend at Sese village before he reportedly committed suicide. These cases add to a growing list of similar incidents that have shocked communities and reignited national conversations on gender-based violence (GBV).
Recently, President Duma Boko called on the nation to critically assess the effectiveness of capital punishment in curbing violent crime, particularly GBV. “We need to approach this issue with clear minds. Over the years, we have implemented the death penalty, but people continue to kill. We must ask ourselves if it is really helping or if we need a different approach,” he said.
Botswana remains one of the few countries in Africa that still carry death penalty. However, the President’s remarks have sparked intense debate amongst citizens.
Many Batswana continue to call for harsher punishment, insisting that murderers should face the same fate as their victims. Some argue that the suspension of executions has weakened deterrence.
There are currently 17 inmates on death row, with the last execution carried out in 2021. A section of the public believes that the absence of executions has made some people “comfortable” with killing, knowing they are unlikely to face capital punishment.
Others, however, question whether fear of execution can truly prevent crime rooted in emotional instability, possessiveness, substance abuse, or deep-seated social attitudes. Recently, the police Commissioner, Dinah Marathe emphasised that violence and brutality cannot be addressed through law enforcement alone. She argued that a comprehensive, multi-sectoral approach is required.
“There is an urgent need to understand the root cause of violence in order to develop effective prevention measures,” she said.
Some are of the view that many cases are driven by possessiveness, jealousy, and a desire to control partners, while some say men perceive their partners as property rather than independent individuals with rights and choices.
However, some people continue to argue that many couples lack healthy ways to manage disagreements, as minor disputes often escalate into violence due to poor emotional regulation.
Moreover, alcohol and drug abuse frequently feature in domestic violence cases, impairing judgment and fuelling aggression. While laws and penalties remain important, there is a need for sustainable solutions which will focus on prevention, education, and early intervention.
The ongoing national debate raises difficult but necessary questions. One of the questions is whether punishment alone is enough. Are communities doing enough to protect vulnerable partners? Are boys being raised to respect women? Are victims being supported before violence escalates?
Until these questions are addressed, honestly and collectively, Botswana risks remaining trapped in a cycle of grief, outrage, and silence. The lives lost demand more than sympathy; they demand action.
For decades, violence and brutality, particularly against women perpetrated by intimate partners has remained a troubling and persistent reality in Botswana. Commonly referred to as ‘passion killings’, these acts are often framed as crimes driven by love, jealousy or emotional distress. Behind this term lies a harsh reality, women continue to lose their lives at the hands of those who claim to love them, Mmegi crime reporter, PINI BOTHOKO observes