Botswana
Death penalty and prisoners' rights · Archive since 1999
Data card
- Legal status
- Retentionist
- Executions recorded in 2026
- 0
- Executions recorded in 2025
- 0
- First news item in the archive
- JANUARY 1, 1999 · Capital crimes are: murder, treason, an attempt on...
- News items in the archive
- 133
Source: Hands Off Cain database, updated to 2026.
Botswana is classified as Retentionist in the Hands Off Cain database, updated to 2026. In 2026 the association recorded 0 executions in the country, against 0 the year before. The archive holds 133 news items on Botswana, from 1999 to today.
Latest news
SEPTEMBER 2, 2026BotswanaDEATH PENALTYBotswana: man sentenced to death for killing Korean national 10 years ago
DECEMBER 20, 2023BotswanaDEATH PENALTYBOTSWANA: CHILD-KILLER CONDEMNED TO DEATH
The Gaborone High Court has sent a convicted child rapist and murderer to the gallows. Chief Justice Terrence Rannowane sentenced Ramatshwiri Mokobela to death on December 14, 2023 for killing a five-year-old girl-child in the Ghanzi District area.
- SEPTEMBER 20, 2023BotswanaDEATH PENALTY
BOTSWANA: CHILD RAPIST, MURDERER SENTENCED TO DEATH
A 38-year-old Sashemooke man who raped and murdered the daughter of his live-in lover was sentenced to death on August 24, 2023 for the offence in Botswana.
MAY 12, 2022BotswanaDEATH PENALTYBOTSWANA: HERDER SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR WOMAN'S HACKING
A 27-year-old man of Sefhophe village was on 11 May 2022 sentenced to death for hacking the wife of his employer to death with an axe.
JUNE 14, 2021BotswanaDEATH PENALTYBOTSWANA: MAN EXECUTED OVER 2011 MURDERS OF HIS GIRLFRIEND AND CHILD
Botswana on 11 June 2021 carried out the execution of a man who murdered his girlfriend and young son in 2011.
FEBRUARY 9, 2021BotswanaDEATH PENALTYBOTSWANA: TWO MEN HANGED FOR MURDER
Botswana on 8 February 2021 hanged two men convicted of murder.
- MARCH 30, 2020BotswanaDEATH PENALTY
BOTSWANA: TWO MEN EXECUTED FOR MURDER
Botswana on 28 March 2020 executed two men convicted of murder.
FEBRUARY 24, 2020BotswanaDEATH PENALTYBOTSWANA: CONVICT EXECUTED DESPITE OUTCRY
Botswana has hanged a 29-year old man for murdering his employer, prison services announced on 21 February 2020, despite mounting calls by rights groups to abolish the death penalty.
- JANUARY 1, 2020BotswanaDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty has been on the books in Botswana since its independence from Great Britain in 1966.
The death penalty has been on the books in Botswana since its independence from Great Britain in 1966.
DECEMBER 4, 2019BotswanaDEATH PENALTYBOTSWANA: 44-YEAR-OLD MAN HANGED FOR MURDERING HIS EMPLOYER
Botswana on 2nd December 2019 hanged a 44-year-old man for murdering his boss, prisons services announced, despite mounting criticism from rights groups and the European Union.
- JUNE 12, 2019BotswanaDEATH PENALTY
BOTSWANA DECRIMINALISES HOMOSEXUALITY
Botswana's High Court on 11 June 2019 overturned a law criminalizing consensual same-sex relations in a landmark victory for Africa's LGBTQ movements.
FEBRUARY 12, 2019BotswanaDEATH PENALTYBOTSWANA: FOUR CONVICTED MURDERERS TO HANG
The Court of Appeal on 8 February 2019 confirmed the death sentences of four men convicted of killing a cab driver in Gaborone and a Gantsi farm owner respectively.
- JANUARY 1, 2019BotswanaDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty has been on the books in Botswana since its independence from Great Britain in 1966.
The death penalty has been on the books in Botswana since its independence from Great Britain in 1966.
- OCTOBER 10, 2018BotswanaDEATH PENALTY
BOTSWANA USING FELLOW PRISONERS AS HANGMEN FOR DEATH ROW INMATES
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Defence Justice and Security Segakweng Tsiane told the Public Accounts Committee that they decided to use inmates as hangmen after locals failed to respond to an advert that invited them to apply, APA learned on 8 Oc
- MAY 25, 2018BotswanaDEATH PENALTY
BOTSWANA RESUMES EXECUTION, HANGS DEATH ROW INMATE
Botswana continued executions this year, with the hanging of another death row inmate in 2018.
- FEBRUARY 17, 2018BotswanaDEATH PENALTY
BOTSWANA HANGS MAN WHO MURDERED GIRLFRIEND, SON
Botswana hanged a man for murdering his girlfriend and her son, the first execution in two years by the only southern African nation not to have abolished the death penalty.
- JANUARY 17, 2018BotswanaDEATH PENALTY
BOTSWANA BRUSHES OFF CALLS TO SCRAP DEATH PENALTY
Botswana brushed off international calls to scrap the death penalty, saying it is not an abuse of individual human rights.
- JANUARY 1, 2018BotswanaDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty has been on the books in Botswana since its independence from Great Britain in 1966.
The death penalty has been on the books in Botswana since its independence from Great Britain in 1966.
- DECEMBER 19, 2017BotswanaDEATH PENALTY
Two sentenced to death
December 2017: Tshiamo Kgalalelo and Mmika Mpe sentenced to death for murder
- DECEMBER 19, 2017BotswanaDEATH PENALTY
Mooketsi Kgosibodiba sentenced to death for murder
19 December 2017: Francistown High Court Judge Moesi sentenced Mooketsi Kgosibodiba to death for the murder of Benjamin Makobela back in 2012 at Makobo village.
- DECEMBER 1, 2017BotswanaDEATH PENALTY
Cab driver murderers sentenced to hang
1 December 2017: Chief Justice Mr Maruping Dibotelo has Friday (December 01) sentenced two men accused of the murder of a Deluxe Cabs driver to death by hanging after he declared that he could not established any extenuating circumstances in the matter.
- NOVEMBER 23, 2017BotswanaDEATH PENALTY
Joseph Poni Tselayarona sentenced to death
23 November 2017: death sentence confirmed by the Court of Appeal on Tselayarona for murder.
FEBRUARY 24, 2017BotswanaDEATH PENALTYBOTSWANA: GOVERNMENT WILL NOT AMEND DEATH PENALTY LAW – MINISTER
The Botswana government has no plans to amend the law governing the death penalty, Defence, Justice and Security Minister Shaw Kgathi told parliament.
- JANUARY 1, 2017BotswanaDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty has been on the books in Botswana since its independence from Great Britain in 1966.
The death penalty has been on the books in Botswana since its independence from Great Britain in 1966.
- JUNE 15, 2016BotswanaDEATH PENALTY
SOUTH AFRICA: GOVERNMENT TO DEPORT BOTSWANA MURDERERS TO FACE DEATH SENTENCE
The government of South Africa decided to amend the Treaty on Extradition Act facilitating extradition
MAY 25, 2016BotswanaDEATH PENALTYBOTSWANA: PATRICK GABAAKANYE HANGED AT GABORONE CENTRAL PRISON
death row inmate Patrick Gabaakanye was hanged at Gaborone Central Prison, according to a statement
- JANUARY 1, 2016BotswanaDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty has been on the books in Botswana since its independence from Great Britain in 1966.
The death penalty has been on the books in Botswana since its independence from Great Britain in 1966.
- JANUARY 1, 2015BotswanaDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty has been on the books in Botswana since its independence from Great Britain in 1966.
The death penalty has been on the books in Botswana since its independence from Great Britain in 1966.
- OCTOBER 17, 2014BotswanaDEATH PENALTY
SOUTH AFRICA/BOTSWANA: WRONGLY REPATRIATED MAN WILL NOT BE SPARED THE NOOSE
Botswana’s defence minister, Ramadeluka Seretse, has insisted that his government will not give South
SEPTEMBER 16, 2014BotswanaDEATH PENALTYSOUTH AFRICA: MURDER SUSPECT DEPORTED TO BOTSWANA EVEN THOUGH HE COULD FACE DEATH PENALTY THERE
Human rights lawyers are pressing South Africa to explain why a murder suspect from Botswana was