Fresh bid to decriminalise homosexuality

Gay rights advocates at Lobatse High Court yesterday PIC: MORERI SEJAKGOMO
Gay rights advocates at Lobatse High Court yesterday PIC: MORERI SEJAKGOMO

A 21-year-old University of Botswana (UB) student is leading the latest fight by lobbyists for the decriminalisation of homosexuality. Letsweletse Motshidiemang recently filed papers in the Lobatse High Court challenging the constitutionality of Section 164(a) and 167 of the Penal Code, which criminalise homosexuality.

In his application filed before Justice Leburu of Lobatse High Court, Motshidiemang says the sections in question interfere with his fundamental right to liberty, as well as his right to use his body as he sees fit, which includes expressing his sexual affection through the only means available to him as a homosexual.

Motshidiemang says he has a right to equal protection of law and the right not to be subjected to inhuman or degrading treatment.

Editor's Comment
Human rights are sacred

It highlights the need to protect rights such as access to clean water, education, healthcare and freedom of expression.President Duma Boko, rightly honours past interventions from securing a dignified burial for Gaoberekwe Pitseng in the CKGR to promoting linguistic inclusion. Yet, they also expose a critical truth, that a nation cannot sustainably protect its people through ad hoc acts of compassion alone.It is time for both government and the...

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