30 Mar 2026

Convicted offenders found in possession of human remains will soon face mandatory minimum of 20 years in prison, as Parliament moves to close legal loopholes that previously allowed ritualistic crimes to go under-punished. 

That followed adoption of a motion by Lobatse Member of Parliament, Mr Kamal Jacobs, seeking to amend Section 201(A) of the Penal Code (No. 18 of 2018) to significantly increase penalties for the unlawful possession of human remains.  Tabling the motion, Mr Jacobs stated that the amendment was long overdue and the proposed change would ensure that any person found in unlawful possession of human flesh, body parts, or remains committed a serious offense.

 If amended, the section would provide that offenders face a minimum sentence of 20 years and a maximum of life imprisonment. Mr Jacobs argued that the Penal Code had historically been too vague on such offenses, which had contributed to recidivism. “This lack of clarity has led to an increase in cases often linked to ritualistic practices,” he said. 

The MP highlighted that the motion was motivated by distressing data from the Botswana Prisons Service which show a sharp upward trend in such offenses where 23 cases were recorded in December 2023 and increased to 51 in 2024 while 160 of them were recorded in December last year. Mr Jacobs emphasised that the motion aimed to curb ritual killings and illegal organ harvesting, while also addressing public outcry regarding missing persons and the discovery of mutilated bodies.

 Debating the motion, Mahalapye West MP and Minister of Communication and Innovation, Mr David Tshere, underscored the need for researching the root causes of such crimes. 

“The solution lies in understanding the ‘why’ behind the demand for human flesh,” Mr Tshere said.  He suggested that research could help address the issue more comprehensively. Furthermore, he noted that as the country transformed into a knowledge-based economy, it should focus on patenting and commercialising indigenous knowledge to provide ethical solutions for societal challenges. 

Supporting the motion, Charleshill legislator, Mr Motsamai Motsamai expressed concern that ritual killings disproportionately affected low-income communities.

 He argued that amending the code was a vital step in protecting the less privileged members of society. Mr Motsamai also opined that the amendment would serve as a necessary and powerful deterrent against heinous acts, including human trafficking and ritualistic murder. ENDS