Botswana supports death penalty despite international calls for reform—survey reveals
The majority of the people of Botswana continue to support the death penalty for the most serious crimes, despite mounting international criticism and calls for reform.
According to the latest Afrobarometer survey, 82% of Botswanans believe capital punishment is justified, while only 16% oppose it outright.
Survey findings suggest strong support for the death penalty across various demographics. Women (86%) are more likely to back it than men (77%), and older citizens (85%) are more in favour compared to younger adults (75%). Notably, opinions on the issue are evenly distributed between urban and rural populations.
However, concerns about judicial fairness persist, with nearly four in ten respondents (38%) believing the legal system often treats people unequally, while 56% feel such occurrences are rare or non-existent.
The Afrobarometer study, conducted by Star Awards, surveyed a nationally representative sample of 1,200 adult Batswana between July 6 and 19, 2024, with findings published on January 23, 2025.
Critics argue that the death penalty is applied inconsistently, disproportionately affecting certain groups. While Botswana remains the only Southern African country that still enforces capital punishment following Zimbabwe’s recent abolition of the practice, a Presidential Commission of Inquiry under former President Mokgweetsi Masisi recommended maintaining the law. Botswana has averaged one execution per year since 2019 and currently has 16 inmates on death row.
The debate over the death penalty has gained renewed attention in local politics, particularly since the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) won last year’s general election. Under the leadership of President Duma Boko, a known human rights advocate, speculation has grown that Botswana might reconsider its stance on capital punishment. Boko has consistently argued against the death penalty, claiming it has not deterred rising murder rates in the country.
