This was revealed by the Minister for State President, Moeti Mohwasa, when he recently responded to a question asked by the Member of Parliament for Molepolole South, Arafat Khan, before Parliament. Khan, given government's commitment to a human rights-based approach, wanted to know the number of reported ritual murder cases in the last five years and if there were any plans to decisively deal with that problem. In response Mohwasa said his ministry recorded a total of 1,463 murder cases in the past five years. The minister told Parliament that amongst these, six of the victims were found with body parts missing but couldn't confirm that they were ritual murders. “In all of the six cases, nine suspects have been arrested and the cases are before courts.
Back in 2020, we recorded 221 murder cases, 273 cases in 2021 and there was an increase in 2022 to 310 murder cases, 322 cases in 2023, and 337 murder cases in 2024,” Mohwasa revealed. “Some of these murder victims are at times reported as missing persons by their families and to address this, the Botswana Police Service is reviewing its missing person's policies and procedures to improve investigative processes, information management as well as family liaison,” he added. The Police have in the past revealed that many of these murders stem from seemingly minor disputes, often fuelled by alcohol consumption, love-related conflicts, and other petty issues. . As investigators of these cases, the police have repeatedly expressed concern over the increasing trend, citing alcohol abuse and unresolved personal disputes as the leading triggers of deadly altercations. A significant number of these cases start as disagreements at drinking spots, where intoxication escalates tensions with what may begin as a minor verbal exchange quickly turning into fatal violence, leaving families and communities devastated. Another worrying trend is the increase in murders linked to relationship disputes. Love triangles, infidelity suspicions, and domestic conflicts have led to brutal killings. In some cases, jealousy and emotional distress drive individuals to commit violent acts against their partners.
