04 Feb 2022

The debate over gender and gay rights appears set to come up now and then as the Presidential Commission of Enquiry on Review of the Constitution meets with Batswana.

Coming closely behind the issues of land and dikgosi’s powers and support for capital punishment, the issue came up several times at the commission’s meeting in Gabane on Wednesday, perhaps giving an indication of what to expect as touching the subject as the commission crisscrosses the country.

In Gabane, the residents did not mince words in their disdain for same-sex relationships. Those who took to the podium expressed disappointment that the courts had legalised the relationships.

Enter Mr Motlotlegi Sebokonyane. He could not understand how the law could entertain something like that.

“Batswana ga ba bate kgang e,” he said, meaning Batswana detested the practice, and warned lawmakers should not attempt to legalise such relationships.
“batho ba bong ba gape...ke gore ke le Mosime ke ntse jaana, ke ikgethela go nyala lekolwane le lengwe jaaka nna  kgotsa monna you mongwe,” meaning same-sex relationships allowed men to marry other men, said Mr Simon Mosime

That the courts recently legalised homosexuality was both baffling and worrisome, as soon people may be taken to court for refusing to recognise homosexuals, suggested Mosime.  He suggested that was already happening in some countries, where pastors were being prosecuted for refusing to officiate at gay marriages.

 “We recently learnt in the news, that in some country that I can’t name, a pastor was prosecuted for refusing to officiate when two men wanted to marry,” he said and called for protection of pastors from prosecution.

“Let the law be clear that pastors are protected from prosecution for refusing to do that,” he said. The rejoinder was near-deafening applause from the 200 or so strong crowd, a clear suggestion the morafe was in agreement with him.

Later on, at the interest groups’ presentations, two thirds of the groups said Batswana were not ready to accept same-sex marriages and the law should not allow for its recognition.

There is no doubt that the issue will come up again as both conservative Batswana and Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals of Botswana (LEGABIBO), will be working to convince the undecided mind that they are right.