Botswana reviews sexual offence penalties

According to a Savingram dated September 14, 2023, the Minister of Justice, Machana Shamukuni officially announced that the Penal Code amendment Act of 2021, has "been amended to enhance penalties against morality, make provision for compensation of victims of sexual offences and to criminalise false allegations of sexual offences”.

The new Act says once convicted of rape, the convicts may now spend the rest of his or her life in prison. “..., any person who has been charged with the offence of rape shall, subject to Sub Sections (2) and (4), upon conviction be sentenced to a minimum terms of 20 years imprisonment or a maximum term of life imprisonment,” reads the Act. In addition, if the rape according to court findings also resulted in violence or injury to the victim, the perpetrator will have a minimum sentence of 25 years or a to a maximum life imprisonment with or without corporal punishment.