04 Apr 2018

The Penal Code (Amendment) Bill of 2018, which among other things, seeks to enhance penalties for various offences, has passed to Committee Stage of Parliament.

The Bill was presented recently by Minister of Defence, Justice and Security, Mr Shaw Kgathi, who explained that its objective was to address incidences of defilement and abuse of children, abduction, indecent assault, and kidnapping of children.

Minister Kgathi also said the Bill sought to align the Penal Code with the Children’s Act by raising the legal age of consent to sex from 16 to 18. 

He added that the Bill also addressed general concerns of the public that laws were not deterrent enough, by introducing stiffer fines and penalties, particularly for offenses of murder, rape and manslaughter. 

The Bill, he added, also addressed public outcry that penalties provided in the Penal Code for offenses such as common nuisance, trafficking in obscene publications, idle and disorderly persons, use of insulting language, nuisance by drunken persons, were not deterrent enough and required to be enhanced. 

“The offences of hostage taking, possession of human flesh or remains, and cannibalism have also been introduced,” Mr Kgathi said, adding the Bill also ensured that Botswana would adhere to high international obligations by aligning the Penal Code with other anti-money laundering and counter terrorism policies.

Serowe South MP, Dr Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi commended the minister for presenting the Bill saying stiffer penalties for possession of human flesh would help to reduce incidences of ritual murders.

Okavango MP, Mr Bagalatia Arone also supported the Bill saying the practice of ritual murder had no space in the society and must be condemned. “Many people are disappearing in this country, therefore we welcome this law,” he said.

Mahalapye West MP, Mr Joseph Molefe said raising the age of consent to sex would help to reduce occurrences of child marriages, while Nkange MP, Mr Edwin Batshu welcomed the raising of age of consent to sex saying it would help to reduce teenage pregnancies, particularly among students. ENDS