Confessions of a former hangman
Zolani Kraai | Friday June 10, 2016 14:55
The recent execution of convicted serial murderer and rapist, Patrick Gabaakanye continues to send ripples through public discourse, reinvigorating the debate around capital punishment.
In the midst of the furore, a former prison guard this week approached Mmegi to share his experience of the execution process in Botswana. The guard worked in Gaborone and other prisons countrywide in the 1990s and 2000s, during which Botswana attracted international attention for several high profile executions. The prison warder, Kgomotso Peloethata*, asks for his identity to be kept absolutely secret for fear of victimisation and reprisals from certain sections of the public.
Peloethata recalls details about the Gaborone Maximum Prison Execution Chamber and the several death row inmates who took their final walk to the trap doors. “I have directly participated in seven executions, sometimes instructed to release the trap door handle. The Officer in Charge of the Prison selects an execution team comprising of male and female warders.
“The person who opens the trap door can be the most senior officer or any other officer of the team.”
He reveals that during the countdown towards execution, the condemned inmate’s last supper is his/her choice of favourite dishes. The inmate is also offered an opportunity to make a will that will later be handed over to family members.
According to Peloethata, those allowed access to the execution chambers include an accounting officer who may be the permanent secretary of the relevant ministry or any senior officer, as well as a medical doctor who is required to verify the success of the execution.
Condemned prisoners are led to the execution chambers with black hoods covering their faces.
“After the noose is tied around their neck, the trap doors are opened and the prisoner struggles briefly while fading to the final breath,” he says.
“The body is then cleaned by a coroner from within the department, and placed in a decent coffin for burial by the warders. “It is not true that fellow prisoners are made to dig the graves.
That is the duty of the prisons warders who also do the burial.” From the time a convict is sentenced to death, they are allocated a separate and isolated cell from other prisoners. Their only companion is a prison warder on watch around the clock.
Peloethata says a relationship tends to build between the death row inmate and the warders, out of sympathy. “You would imagine yourself in the shoes of the convicted murderer and imagine what he is thinking. It is tough to digest and pretend as if nothing is happening. “However, one has to honour the code of conduct and the duties. I am a proponent of capital punishment, but I would feel sympathetic to them, especially towards the last days.”
Prison warders involved in the executions are offered pre- and post-execution counselling, says Peloethata. He, however, says few are left traumatised by the experience as they take the presidential directive very seriously. “I have never heard of any case of an officer experiencing post-execution trauma. You should always remember that it is a directive from the President, after failed clemency pleas, and it has to be followed.”
According to Peloethata, as the days progress and the execution looms large, many death row convicts confess their crimes to their warders and describe the scenarios of their crimes. He says this particularly happens when the President turns down the clemency plea. Peloethata, who is now self-employed, recalls some notable executions.
Tekoetsile Tsiane
“Teko, as he was commonly known, beat up some warders and some of them can share testimony to the scars that he left on them. “The guy was very dangerous and all warders were well aware of his martial arts background and the physical strength he possessed. Necessary restraints were applied. “Like any other fight or war, one would come back with signs of the effects such as missing shirt buttons, torn trousers. “Even those assigned to escort him to the trap doors came back with memories of his violence.”
Marietta Bosch
“Before she was executed, we were given the usual instructions and made aware of the protocols to be followed. “She seemed remorseful of her deeds in her last hour although she did not reveal why she actually killed her best friend.
“She was only concerned about her plea for forgiveness and covenant with the heavens. She only realised very late the gravity of the reality of execution minutes before she was walked to the noose. “She would often talk about her daughter’s ailment, which she said was diabetes.”
Letlhogonolo Kobedi
“He was a remorseful and lonely figure prior to his execution. I noticed he had no energy even long before execution, as he was unable to walk by himself. He had poor physique and lack of energy as he was led to the trap door.”Despite criticisms, the death penalty is unlikely to be scrapped any time soon. This week, Botswana Democratic Party secretary general, Botsalo Ntuane said government’s position was clear.
“Very few Batswana are against capital punishment. We also want to challenge the opposition parties in Botswana to provide their position in this matter, but until then, capital punishment will remain applicable in this country.”
*Not his real name