Lawyer Blames Death Penalty For Death Of Jesus

Nikita Geldenhuys
Correspondent | Monday April 6, 2009 00:00

He explained that the African Charter on Human Rights declares human life sacrosanct. He said Botswana's justice system is therefore undermining human rights because it has capital punishment. He stated that he cannot thank the President for his human rights. 'I will not thank the President for my human rights, I will assert them,' Boko stated. He faulted a statement by fellow panelist, Pastor Owen Isaacs that governments are agents of God. He said the statement is startling because the same agents of God create an orgy of pain and cruelty when they perform executions.

In his presentation, Isaacs, the secretary general of the Evangelical Fellowship of Botswana, said that the death penalty is executed through God's will. He asserted that using the death penalty means affirming the highest value of human life. He said that Botswana is a country that strives for safety and security but is still far from the ideal.

'We are modern. I wish modern could mean safe,' Isaacs said. He supported the death penalty as long as there are murders in Botswana. He asserted that neighbouring South Africa have removed the death penalty from their laws but this has not resulted in a safer society.

Another panelist, Kgosietsile Ngakaagae from the Attorney General's Chambers defended capital punishment by saying that the family of a murdered person should not be forgotten.

He said that for many families in Botswana, the possibility of being a victim of violent crime is a reality. Hence the death penalty exists so that these families can have their revenge. 'Society cannot take revenge on the murderer so the state does,' Ngakaagae said.

The discussion was organised by the UB Political Science Society. Head of the society, Belinda Maposa, said that such debates are not only appropriate but are necessary for Botswana's democracy. Isaacs was the first panelist to present his argument followed by Boko and Ngakaagae. Both Isaacs and Ngakaagae seemed to agree that the death penalty should stay.