Churches launch fight against sex work motion
Innocent Selatlhwa | Wednesday August 12, 2026 06:00
The Christian body has declared firm opposition to a motion by Mogoditshane West legislator, Galenawabo Lekau, describing it as a “catastrophic misstep” that could expose vulnerable people to greater exploitation, abuse, and human trafficking.
Lekau’s motion appeared as item 12 on Thursday’s National Assembly Order Paper. It asks government to repeal sections 155 and 156 of the Penal Code to protect human rights, curb gender-based violence and strengthen public health interventions.
But the EFB argues that removing the provisions would effectively legalise and normalise prostitution in Botswana.
In an urgent statement, the fellowship called on every MP to reject the motion and urged churches to dedicate Sunday services, midweek prayers, and personal devotion to praying against it.
“The EFB is immediately mobilising a nationwide prayer chain,” the organisation said.
“We call on every local church to dedicate their Sunday services, mid-week prayers, and personal devotionals to fervently interceding for Botswana.”
It said prayers should focus on wisdom for lawmakers, protection of young people, and what it called a spiritual awakening in the country.
Section 155 criminalises knowingly living wholly or partly on the earnings of prostitution and persistently soliciting in public. Section 156 targets anyone who lives on those earnings or controls another person’s movements to aid or compel prostitution for gain.
The EFB said it recognised the poverty, unemployment and other social pressures that drive some women and men into sex work. It also acknowledged that sex workers retain their rights to life, security, liberty, equal protection, and healthcare.
“A person does not lose the right to life, security, liberty, equal protection, healthcare, or freedom because he or she is a sex worker,” it said.
However, the fellowship maintained that decriminalisation would not solve those problems and could instead strengthen brothel owners, pimps, and traffickers who exploit sex workers for profit.
They want the government to provide what it described as holistic rescue, rehabilitation, and economic alternatives rather than change the law.
A 2023 Botswana assessment under the Global Fund’s Breaking Down Barriers initiative estimated HIV prevalence amongst sex workers at 42%. It also identified stigma, discrimination and other human rights barriers facing sex workers when seeking HIV services.
UNAIDS supports decriminalisation, arguing that punitive laws drive sex workers away from healthcare, reduce access to condoms, and increase exposure to violence. It says global modelling suggests decriminalisation could prevent between 33% and 46% of HIV infections amongst sex workers and their clients over 10 years.
The EFB, however, based its opposition on biblical teachings about the human body, sexual morality, and national righteousness. It said prostitution turned the body into a product to be bought and sold and warned that weakening moral laws would invite spiritual and social decay.
“We will not sit idly by whilst laws are crafted that endanger the souls and bodies of our citizens,” They said.
The fellowship said it was ready to engage with Parliament and advocate alternatives that protect vulnerable people without changing the law.
The battle may now move from church pulpits to the National Assembly.