Botswana government to appeal High Court’s ruling to decriminalise homosexuality
The South African country ruled to end two colonial laws back in June this year
By Steve Brown
Words: Steve Brown
The Botswana Government has announced it will seek to overturn the decriminalisation of homosexuality.
In June, the African country made history after the High Court ruled to end two colonial laws that criminalised consensual same-sex behaviour and dubbed the laws unconstitutional, discriminatory and not in the public’s interest.
The Penal Code gave a maximum seven years of prison to those found guilty of ‘carnal knowledge of any person against the order of nature’ and under Section 167, anyone found guilty of ‘acts of gross indecency’ could be sentenced to two years in prison.
But now, Botswana’s Attorney-General Abraham Keetshabe said the government feel the High Court were mistaken when they overturned the laws.
In a press statement, he said: “I am of the view that the High Court erred in arriving at this conclusion and thus, I have decided to note an appeal with the Court of Appeal.”