27 Jul 2023

Government has not adopted any policy in relation to homosexuality in government schools.

Answering a question in Parliament, Minister of Justice, Mr Machana Shamukuni said government had not expressed any intention of legalising homosexuality marriages.

He said there were no statistics showing the number of homosexuals, heterosexuals, bisexuals, transgender and asexuals in Botswana.

He noted that Statistics Botswana, being the custodian of the country’s records, had not started collecting information pertaining to the stated sub-populations.

Minister Shamukuni said his ministry was yet to develop strategies to sensitise the public on the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ+) existence. He added that it was a new development that came through a decision of the Court of Appeal.

Serowe North MP, Mr Baratiwa Mathoothe,  had asked the minister to state government’s position regarding homosexuality in government schools.

He also wanted to know if government intended to legalise homosexual marriages in the near future.

The MP further requested for information on the number of homosexuals, heterosexuals, bisexuals, transgender and asexuals in Botswana, and what was being done to sensitise the public on the existence of the LGBTQ+ in the country. Ends