Legalise gays and prostitutes 'over my dead body'

Oarabile Mosikare | Thursday December 5, 2013 18:10

Speaking at an event to bid farewell to the outgoing Botswana Network on Ethics Law and HIV/AIDS (BONELA) executive director Uyapo Ndadi, Moatlhodi said he will never agree for sex work or allow gay marriage in Botswana. “Over my dead body. If Tanzania is doing it, we cannot do it,” said Moatlhodi.

He said homosexuality is a foreign culture and our forefathers will turn in their graves if it was allowed to happen.

Despite his reservations against prostitution and homosexuality, he said he would lobby other legislators to plead with the Ministry of Health (MoH) to fund BONELA the same way it funds the National AIDS Coordinating Agency (NACA).  Another guest councillor Reverend Rupert Hambira encouraged the incoming BONELA executive director Cindy Kelemi not to ignore the ethical issues.

Hambira explained that he was not saying sex work or homosexuality should be allowed. He said when questions of gays and sex workers are raised it is not a call to accept them. 

“We must not discriminate against them. I do not support a gay relationship because I don’t know what happens in that relationship but I find it difficult as a Christian to discriminate against gays,” said Hambira.

Palapye legislator Moiseraela Goya agreed that MoH should fund BONELA but said he was puzzled by the organisation’s insistence of secrecy around HIV/AIDS.

“I am puzzled why I should disclose my other ailments to my partner and not HIV/AIDS. What is so special about HIV/AIDS? I will never agree with you. Over my dead body,” said Goya.