Presenting the budget estimates for the 2026/27 financial year for the ministry on Wednesday, Minister of Justice and Correctional Services, Mr Nelson Ramaotwana said extensive consultations with the San had been carried out but halted due to budgetary constraints.

Minister Ramaotwana said the ministry facilitated participation, inclusion and integration of San communities in the development of the twelfth National Development Plan 12 (NDP 12).  Further, he said the San participated in the development of the Botswana Economic Transformation Programme (BETP) as part of socio-economic inclusion. 

He added that representatives of the San from Okavango, Kgalagadi, Boteti, Ghanzi and Charleshill were present at the BETP labs. 

“During the Lab sessions, representatives of the San developed a culturally appropriate programme, which was subsequently submitted to the Ministry of Finance to inform the NDP 12,” he said. 

Minister Ramaotwana said government would ratify all regional and international instruments that promote protection of rights of indigenous people, make Central Kalahari Game Reserve (CKGR) a symbolic recognition of indigenous people and the right of return and formalising participation of the San in development. 

“Government’s commitment to uplifting the lives of the indigenous people has been acknowledged and positively received at the international level. The UN’s Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous People commended Botswana’s demonstrated political will, openness to reform and growing leadership in the region with respect to the recognition, protection, and promotion of Indigenous People’s rights,” the minister said. 

Debating the ministry’s budget request, Okavango West MP, Mr Kenny Kapinga said justice delay was a major reason Batswana were calling for lengthy sentences and application of the death penalty. 

Mr Kapinga said such, however, were not deterrent to crime, adding that effective justice characterised by quick disposal of cases was the best deterrent. The MP said everyone, including the worst criminals, had a right to a fair trial and urged the politicians to refrain from running along with mob justice, pronouncing people guilty before they were tried in a competent court of law. 

MP Kapinga also appealed to government not to come up with trumped up charges against its opponents as it happened under the previous government. 

“The more they get arrested, then it becomes a deterrent. Increase convictions before courts,” he said. 

He further decried delayed justice in juvenile offences, saying children ended up being tried as adults although they had not reached the age of maturity when they committed the crimes.  For her part, Kgatleng West MP, Dr Unity Dow said as a human rights-centred government, it should be visible in the justice system, with balanced rights between the crime victims and perpetrators. 

Dr Dow said justice must make sense to the victims, not just through punishment for the perpetrators but they should also have financial award, hence a civil case should follow criminal proceedings. 

She further asked for review of divorce cases saying at times the division of properties left people impoverished, giving an example where the married couple had only one residence but had to sell it, hence left homeless. 

MP Ignatius Moswaane of Francistown South, said finger prints should be expunged when people either completed their sentences or received presidential pardon.  He said in some cases, people were never told about their rights but instead tortured by the police. 

MP Moswaane said many people were still waiting to be assisted by Legal Aid, adding they should be allowed to choose their own lawyers, however based on the rates offered.  He said some refugees had been in Botswana for more than 30 years and therefore should be awarded citizenship and their children sent to tertiary institutions. 

MP Shima Monageng of Molepolole South called upon ministries to ensure that funds allocated were adequately utilised. 

 He said affirmative action should be introduced to assist indigenous communities. Mogoditshane West MP, Mr Galenawabo Lekau said children imprisoned at Moshupa Boy’s Prison were likely to reach mature age before their trials. 

He decried dilapidated infrastructure at prisons adding even the officials were discouraged by lack of progress. 

MP Lekau agreed with MP Kapinga saying the ruling party should not use government resources to silence their opponents.  Kanye East MP, Mr Prince Mosanana called for the parole of prisoners saying that would reduce costs and give them an opportunity to fend for themselves.  He further said they should be upskilled so that they had something to use when they were free. 

MP Mosanana further called for increased capacity for customary courts to lessen the burden carried by magistrate courts.

Parliament, meanwhile, approved the requested budget of P151 million and P48,940,400 for recurrent and development, respectively. ENDS