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
- JULY 3, 2014BotswanaDEATH PENALTY
Justice Lakvinder Wallia of Gaborone High Court has sentenced Patrick Gabaakanye (54) of Serowe to
Justice Lakvinder Wallia of Gaborone High Court has sentenced Patrick Gabaakanye (54) of Serowe to
- JANUARY 1, 2014BotswanaDEATH 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, 2013BotswanaDEATH PENALTY
BOTSWANA SAYS DEATH PENALTY REMAINS IN EFFECT
Botswana’s Government has maintained that the overturned five death sentences this year
- MAY 27, 2013BotswanaDEATH PENALTY
BOTSWANA MAN ON SIX DEATH SENTENCES EXECUTED
A Botswana man who was handed six death sentences for murdering his family after a misunderstanding over food was executed.
- JANUARY 1, 2013BotswanaDEATH 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.
- APRIL 30, 2012BotswanaDEATH PENALTY
a Francistown High Court judge, Justice Kholisani Solo...
a Francistown High Court judge, Justice Kholisani Solo...
- FEBRUARY 23, 2012BotswanaDEATH PENALTY
'EXTRADITE BOTSWANA FUGITIVE'
In South Africa, the Constitutional Court heard arguments in a case involving Botswana nationals
- FEBRUARY 10, 2012BotswanaDEATH PENALTY
Gotlhalosamang Gabaokelwe will face the hangman after the Court of Appeal...
Gotlhalosamang Gabaokelwe will face the hangman after the Court of Appeal...
- JANUARY 31, 2012BotswanaDEATH PENALTY
BOTSWANA: DEATH ROW INMATE HANGED
In Botswana, death row inmate Zibani Thamo convicted of murder was hanged in the morning.
- JANUARY 1, 2012BotswanaDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty has been in force in Botswana since the country became independent in 1966.
The death penalty has been in force in Botswana since the country became independent in 1966.
- AUGUST 14, 2011BotswanaDEATH PENALTY
BOTSWANA: DEATH SENTENCES COMMUTED
the Court of Appeal in Botswana commuted the death sentences of three men to jail sentences, according to sources within the Botswana Prison Service. The three were identified as Benson Keganne, Raymond Leshomo and Arnold Masango.
AUGUST 14, 2011BotswanaDEATH PENALTYBOTSWANA: FOUR PRISONERS STILL ON DEATH ROW
four men remain on death row in Botswana, according to sources within the
- AUGUST 1, 2011BotswanaDEATH PENALTY
BOTSWANA: CONVICTS ESCAPE HANGMAN'S NOOSE
Benson Keganne had his death sentences commuted by Justices Moore, Ramodibedi and Howie of the Botswanan Court of Appeal to 18 years in jail, backdated to the first day of his incarceration.
- MAY 1, 2011BotswanaDEATH PENALTY
BOTSWANA: SA MAN ON DEATH ROW SPARED THE NOOSE
South African national Michael Molefe, 50, was saved from the gallows after successfully appealing his death sentence to the Botswana Court of Appeals.
- APRIL 9, 2011BotswanaDEATH PENALTY
BOTSWANA STEADFAST OVER DEATH PENALTY
on April 15, South African Michael Molefhe and Brandon Sampson will appeal against their death sentences in the Court of Appeals in Gaborone, Botswana.
- MARCH 15, 2011BotswanaDEATH PENALTY
BOTSWANA: MAN TO HANG FOR MURDER
Justice Terrence Rannowane of the Botswana High Court sentenced Thamo Zibane to death for murdering his lover Sihle Dube...
- JANUARY 1, 2011BotswanaDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty has been in force in Botswana since the country became independent in 1966.
The death penalty has been in force in Botswana since the country became independent in 1966.
- AUGUST 20, 2010BotswanaDEATH PENALTY
BOTSWANA: MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH IN “PASSION KILLING” CASE
in Botswana, Chief Justice Maruping Dibotelo sentenced Golebaganye Kefakae to death for the murder of his former girlfriend, Mammie Dikube, on 5 October, 2005.
- AUGUST 16, 2010BotswanaDEATH PENALTY
BOTSWANA: MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR MURDER OF THREE PEOPLE
in Botswana, Francistown High Court Judge Tshepo Motswagole sentenced Gotlhalosamang Gaobakelwe to death for killing his girlfriend, Keneilwe Ndolo, and her two children, Ogomoditswe and Kaone.
MARCH 25, 2010BotswanaDEATH PENALTYBOTSWANA: MODISE FLY EXECUTED
Botswana Prisons Service public relations officer Superintendent Ramolefhe confirmed that Modise
FEBRUARY 2, 2010BotswanaDEATH PENALTYBOTSWANA: COURT UPHOLDS DEATH SENTENCE
in Lobatse, Botswana, the Court of Appeal confirmed the death sentence
JANUARY 18, 2010BotswanaDEATH PENALTYBOTSWANA: MEN ON DEATH ROW 10 YEARS AFTER BEING ARRESTED
ten years after first being arrested in connection with the murder of two Zimbabwean
- JANUARY 1, 2010BotswanaDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty has been in force in Botswana since the country became independent in 1966.
The death penalty has been in force in Botswana since the country became independent in 1966.
- DECEMBER 18, 2009BotswanaDEATH PENALTY
Zimbabwean national Gerald Dube (36) was executed in Botswana after he was found guilty
Zimbabwean national Gerald Dube (36) was executed in Botswana after he was found guilty
NOVEMBER 27, 2009BotswanaDEATH PENALTYBOTSWANA: FRANCISTOWN HIGH COURT SENTENCES TWO MEN TO DEATH FOR MURDER
in Botswana, Francistown High Court Judge Moses Chinhengo sentenced former Mupane mine employees
JULY 29, 2009BotswanaDEATH PENALTYBOTSWANA: MURDER CONVICT LOSES APPEAL AGAINST DEATH SENTENCE
Zimbabwean citizen Gerald Dube is set to hang in Botswana after his appeal was
- APRIL 7, 2009BotswanaDEATH PENALTY
BOTSWANA HAS NATIONAL PROCEDURES FOR EXECUTIONS- MINISTER
the Minister of Labour and Home Affairs in Botswana, Peter Siele, told Parliament that the role of executioner had not been localised.
- JANUARY 1, 2009BotswanaDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty has been in force in Botswana since the country became independent in 1966.
The death penalty has been in force in Botswana since the country became independent in 1966.
- OCTOBER 31, 2008BotswanaDEATH PENALTY
DEATH PENALTY STILL STANDS IN BOTSWANA, SAYS KHAMA
the Botswanan Government does not intend to change its current stance on the death penalty, the President Lt Gen. Seretse Khama Ian Khama said
- OCTOBER 22, 2008BotswanaDEATH PENALTY
BOTSWANA: FLY SENT TO THE GALLOWS
former Botswana Congress Party (BCP) youth league secretary general, Modise Mokwadi Fly, was sentenced to death for killing his two-year-old son with an axe.