14 Apr 2026

Recent figures put Botswana’s national prison population at 4 468 inmates, underlining serious overcrowding in correctional facilities.

Although inmate numbers are rising, only a few prisoners have been released on parole.

Courts are also continuing to send more people to prison.

The situation has been made worse by the new Bail Act, which imposes stricter conditions for granting bail.

Assistant Minister of Justice and Correctional Services, Mr Augustine Nyatanga, said during a recent visit to Gaborone Central Prison that while parole could help reduce overcrowding, tough requirements had left many inmates ineligible.

One key requirement is an assessment report outlining the offender’s rehabilitation progress.

He said the report must cover the offenders’ development from the time of admission until the report was written.

He urged inmates to portray good behaviour and also to take advantage of rehabilitation programmes such as anger management, character molding, among other things. ENDS