LEGABIBO registration confirms a tolerant nation
Tuesday, May 03, 2016
This is a first start in organising or establishing a forum through which the rights of this minority group will be debated, discussed and channeled to stakeholders.
While the registration itself does not change any of the existing laws that segregate against people of this social orientation, it nevertheless remains a key platform through which stakeholders including the lawmakers and policy makes of the land can be invited formerly to get informed about these minority rights issues and possibly act on them. Indeed minority groups like LEGABIBO needs their own unique forum through which they can lobby the powers that be, undertake public awareness or education about their segregated and one of the least understood populations. The registration and recognition of LEGABIBO now paves the way for the organization to start legal battles in the courts of law, to challenge certain contradictory constitutional clauses that continue to segregate against people of same sex orientation despite the same constitution at the same time declaring that no one in Botswana shall be segregated on the basis of such.
Batswana who marched peacefully for 'Justice for Tshepi' demanded answers. They have now received a detailed account of police investigation and a promise that the file is with the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP). The real test is whether the state now keeps its word without further prodding. In his address, the minister asked the nation to trust the process. He spoke of rigour, not neglect, and pointed to 10 months of...