The High Court in Botswana has on Tuesday struck down two colonial-era laws criminalizing consensual same-sex relations.
In a landmark victory for the LGBTQ community in the South African nation, Justice Michael Leburu ruled that the laws were discriminatory, unconstitutional and against the public interest.
“A democratic society is one that embraces tolerance, diversity, and open-mindedness,” Justice Michael Leburu ruled.
“Societal inclusion is central to ending poverty and fostering shared prosperity,” he added.
Section 164 of Botswana’s Penal Code recommended a maximum of 7-year jail sentence to those found culpable of “carnal knowledge of any person against the order of nature.”
Section 167 stated that anyone found guilty of “acts of gross indecency” -whether in public or private, be sentenced to two years in prison.
The case was filed in March by Letsweletse Motshidiemang, a 21-year-old University of Botswana student.
In her case, she argued that society had changed and that homosexuality was more widely accepted.
The packed courtroom erupted in cheers of joy after the judge read his decision.
“Before we were struggling. People have been hiding,” Anna Mmolai-Chalmers, coordinator of Legabibo, a prominent LGBTQ rights group in Botswana said after the ruling.
“This judgment can make a massive change in our lives. This is what excites me the most. The judgment means so much… The court has upheld our dignity, our privacy, and our liberty… It means freedom,” she added.
The ruling comes weeks after Kenya’s high court declined to overturn laws criminalizing same-sex relations.
The push of this agenda is…
The push of this agenda is just crazy. With the gender nonsense, love is love ideology is just another way to push pedophilia using false science. Shame on Africans who fall for this population control scheme. The white population worldwide is decreasing rapidly and they are literally going extinct that’s what you have this push for this movement to depopulate the world. Wake up people
Botswana once again proves…
Botswana once again proves to be the more advanced country.
Botswana is the first…
Botswana is the first country in Africa to realize there’s more important stuff to tackle. Like getting rid of the Chinese in Africa as well as tackling corruption. these useless leaders with their fake degrees are messing Africa up. You won’t recognize Africa in years to come coz of stupid leaders and citizens that take stupid bait thrown at them by these so called leaders. id be pissed off at how someone lived their lives only if they stole from the country.
Botwana should expect an…
Botwana should expect an exodus of the LGBT community frm Kenya & I just pray they’ll be given free plane tickets! Let them shoganize themselves there & bring God’s judgement upon that advanced country that doesn’t know what corruption taste like!
I hope no judge in Kenya…
I hope no judge in Kenya will take the cue from Botswana. I don’t think Africa is ready to go full scale on LGBTQ at this juncture in history. Though we say we have no business regulating what two consensual adults do in their privacy, external manifestation of what they do in private might motivate other vulnerable people to try. I don’t think most of our youth have a solid moral grounding to make the choice and distinguish what is good and what is bad
Jamani: Wakati umefika sasa…
Jamani: Wakati umefika sasa watu waachwe wafanye mambo wapendayo isipokuwa:
1. Ubaguzi wa rangi, jinsia, asili ya mtu, lugha ya mtu, nywele za mtu mambo mengine yanayotokana na tofauti ya DNA ya mtu.
2. Ufisadi
3. Utapeli
4. Ujambazi
5. Uongo
6. Ubakaji
7. Kuwafanya wasichana mimba wakiwa wangali wanafunzi na mwanamume anayefanya hivyo ana mke.
8. Uuaji
9. Uzinifu (adultery)
10. Utoaji au upokeaji wa hongo
11 Uroho (greed) na uhalifu mwingine mwingi unaotokana na vitendo vibaya vya binadamu
Jamani! “…Na tujenge taifa letu, huu ndio wajibu wetu …” bila kuwasumbua mashoga.
“Shoganize ” hats off to you…
“Shoganize ” hats off to you .Botswana is the new headquarters where those inclined can shoganize in peace we as Kenyans do not mind wacha wahamie uko wafanye tabia mbaya