14 Mar 2018

President Lt Gen. Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama says Botswana maintains that death penalty is a criminal justice issue and its application on the most serious crimes is the sovereign right of individual states.

Speaking at the annual heads of diplomatic missions briefing on March 13, President Khama said it was important to note that death penalty was not imposed arbitrarily in Botswana, saying the application of the penalty followed a thorough and exhaustive legal process that met the basic standards of a fair trial.

President Khama said it was imperative to  explain the country’s position on death penalty  because the issue had aroused interest in certain quarters of the globe.
 

He explained that the penalty was imposed for the most serious crimes as understood under international laws, therefore in that regard he said government did not intend to either abolish the death penalty nor impose a moratorium on its application.
 

He further said Botswana would continue to support the International Criminal Court (ICC) because  it was regarded as the only standing international criminal tribunal for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

The President said it was regretable that some countries had withdrawn their membership from Rome statute of ICC.

President Khama stated that Botswana was deeply concerned about the lack of cohesiveness in the United Nations Security Council, which made it difficult for  its members to resolve some of the protracted conflicts on the globe.

On other issues, President Khama applauded heads of diplomatic missions accredited to Botswana for the support they rendered Botswana both during his presidency and throughout the country’s 51 years of existence as a sovereign nation.

He said through their ‘generous’ contribution, the country had made strides particularly in areas of economic growth adding that he was hopeful that the  same gesture would extend towards helping the country implement its vision 2036 as well  trade and investment promotion.

Government, he said continued to intensify efforts geared towards attraction of Foreign Direct Investment in order to promote economic growth and diversification. Ends