27 Aug 2025

China has gifted Botswana forensic autopsy laboratory equipment to be used by the Botswana Police Service mortuary, a development extolled by the government.

“This gift is not just a donation to our nation, it also strengthens the relationship between our two countries,” Minister for State President, Mr Moeti Mohwasa said during the signing of letters of exchange between Botswana and China on Tuesday.

The donation, which coincided with the 50th anniversary of bilateral relations between Botswana and China, Mr Mohwasa said demonstrated that the relationship between the two countries extended beyond government-to-government ties to people to people connections.

He said the two countries’ bilateral relations dated back to years before they formally established diplomatic ties in 1975.

Mr Mohwasa cited Botswana’s vote in support of the One China Policy in 1971 during the United Nations General Assembly Resolution as an example of the cordial relationship the two nations shared.

The minister noted that Botswana could learn a lot from China’s development success story, which had changed over the years.
China’s ambassador to Botswana, Mr Fan Yong, said the equipment would enable the Botswana Police Service to serve the community better and reduce costs associated with forensic autopsy services.

Botswana Police Commissioner, Ms Dinah Marathe for her part, expressed gratitude to China for the donation, saying, it would enhance the police’s ability to serve the community.

She said the autopsy laboratory would be situated at Jubilee Hospital in Francistown and would benefit the northern part of the country.

Police-Support Services, deputy commissioner, Mr Solomon Mantswe stated that the project conception started in May 2021, when the police learned of the Chinese desire to donate to Botswana Police Service.

He said the Botswana Police Service chose the project among several submissions.

Prior to the donation, Mr Mantswe said the building that was to accommodate the equipment had to be refurbished and that was completed in September 2023. ENDS