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 24, 2008BotswanaDEATH PENALTY
BOTSWANA. MAN EXECUTED FOR MURDER
a death row inmate in Botswana, Kedisaletse Tsobane, 49, who was convicted of killing his 10 year old daughter in 2004, was executed.
- AUGUST 26, 2008BotswanaDEATH PENALTY
BOTSWANA MURDER TRIAL SEES DEATH SENTENCE
a Botswana court sentenced one local to execution and two South African men to 18 years imprisonment each for the murder of a businesswoman seven years ago, court documents said
- AUGUST 15, 2008BotswanaDEATH PENALTY
BOTSWANA. KEGANNE SENTENCED TO DEATH
in Botswana, Benson Keganne was sentenced to death by Lobatse High Court Judge David Newman for the murder of a Pitsane woman, Gloria Mahowe, in 2001.
- JULY 21, 2008BotswanaDEATH PENALTY
BOTSWANA: TSOBANE’S DEATH SENTENCE APPEAL DISMISSED
the fate of death row inmate Kedisaletse Tsobane now lies with Botswanan President Ian Khama, after the Court of Appeal dismissed his case.
- APRIL 21, 2008BotswanaDEATH PENALTY
DEATH ROW INMATES SEEK APPEAL COURT REPRIEVE
death row inmates, Michael Molefe of South Africa and Brandson Samson...
- MARCH 25, 2008BotswanaDEATH PENALTY
BOTSWANA: BOKO FIGHTS DEATH PENALTY
a Gaborone human rights lawyer, Duma Boko, is embarking on a crusade to fight against the death penalty in Botswana.
- MARCH 17, 2008BotswanaDEATH PENALTY
BOTSWANA: KILLERS MUST HANG - CHIEF
Batlokwa deputy chief, Michael Gaborone, said that anyone who commits murder must hang. "Killers must hang.
- MARCH 7, 2008BotswanaDEATH PENALTY
BOTSWANA COURT SENTENCES TWO TO DEATH
two men, including a South African national, were sentenced to death by a
- JANUARY 1, 2008BotswanaDEATH 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, 2007BotswanaDEATH PENALTY
Botswana voted against the Resolution on a Moratorium...
Botswana voted against the Resolution on a Moratorium...
- NOVEMBER 19, 2007BotswanaDEATH PENALTY
BOTSWANA. TSOBANE SENTENCED TO DEATH
Justice Modiri Letsididi sentenced a man to death in Gaborone, Botswana, for
- NOVEMBER 5, 2007BotswanaDEATH PENALTY
BOTSWANA CONFIRMS HANGING OF DEATH ROW INMATE
the Botswana Department of Prisons and Rehabilitation confirmed the hanging of death row inmate Sepeni
- NOVEMBER 2, 2007BotswanaDEATH PENALTY
BOTSWANA. POPO HANGED SECRETLY - JOINA
Thema Joina, the lawyer of Sepeni Popo, said his
- OCTOBER 22, 2007BotswanaDEATH PENALTY
BOTSWANA. MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR MURDER
Justice Thomas Masuku sentenced 31 year
- AUGUST 7, 2007BotswanaDEATH PENALTY
BOTSWANA: DEATH ROW INMATE APPEALS AGAINST SENTENCE
the lawyer of a murder convict in an infamous 2001 multiple-murder case filed for an appeal against the sentence with the Lobatse High Court in Botswana.
- JULY 27, 2007BotswanaDEATH PENALTY
BOTSWANA: DEATH ROW INMATE FAILS TO GET COURT OF APPEAL REPRIEVE
the fate of death row inmate Sepeni Popo lies with Botswana President Festus Mogae after he failed to get a reprieve at the Court of Appeal.
- JULY 24, 2007BotswanaDEATH PENALTY
BOTSWANA: COURT OF APPEAL CONFIRMS DEATH SENTENCE
the Botswana Court of Appeal confirmed the death sentence of Sepeni Thubisane Popo for the murder of Ms Boitshwarelo Tinki Balotlegi of Molepolole
- JULY 3, 2007BotswanaDEATH PENALTY
BOTSWANA. GOVERNMENT SLAMMED OVER 'SECRET' EXECUTIONS
the human rights movement in Botswana has issued a joint report on what it calls "hasty and secretive
- JANUARY 1, 2007BotswanaDEATH 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, 2006BotswanaDEATH PENALTY
BOTSWANA. MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR RITUAL KILLING
the Lobatse High Court, Botswana, sentenced Sepeni Popo, 53, to death for the murder of Boitshwarelo Tinki Balotlegi of Molepolole.
- APRIL 1, 2006BotswanaDEATH PENALTY
BOTSWANA. MAN SECRETLY PUT TO DEATH IN APRIL 2006
Modisane Ping was executed in secret in Botswana. Ping was found guilty of killing his girlfriend and her six-year-old son.
- FEBRUARY 2, 2006BotswanaDEATH PENALTY
Mr Oteng Modisane Ping submitted an application for mercy from President Festus Mogae of Botswana.
Mr Oteng Modisane Ping submitted an application for mercy from President Festus Mogae of Botswana.
- JANUARY 1, 2006BotswanaDEATH 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.
- SEPTEMBER 24, 2005BotswanaDEATH 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.
- JULY 27, 2005BotswanaDEATH PENALTY
BOTSWANA. COURT QUASHES DEATH SENTENCE
it was tears of joy for death row inmate Mothusi Phiri when the Court of Appeal substituted his death sentence with a 20-year jail term and upheld a five-year jail sentence for attempted murder.
- MARCH 7, 2005BotswanaDEATH PENALTY
BOTSWANA. CLERIC PLANS MASSIVE CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE DEATH PENALTY
the vice president of the Botswana Christian Council (BCC), Reverend Kebinang Moenga, said he intended to launch a massive war against the government on the issue of capital punishment.
- MARCH 2, 2005BotswanaDEATH PENALTY
BOTSWANA. AU CALLS FOR END TO THE DEATH PENALTY
the African Commission on Human and People's Rights (ACHPR) called on Botswana to end its enforcement of "inhuman and degrading" corporal and capital punishment.
- FEBRUARY 21, 2005BotswanaDEATH PENALTY
the Botswana Centre for Human Rights - Ditshwanelo - held a one-day seminar for legal practitioners.
the Botswana Centre for Human Rights - Ditshwanelo - held a one-day seminar for legal practitioners.
- APRIL 11, 2004BotswanaDEATH 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.
- FEBRUARY 16, 2004BotswanaDEATH PENALTY
Botswana church leaders have spoken out against the...
Botswana church leaders have spoken out against the Appeal Court's decision to uphold the death sentence imposed on South African Marietta Bosch