BEYOND HANGING

President Duma Boko has cautioned against viewing capital punishment as a solution to Botswana’s deep‑rooted social problems, arguing that executions do not address the underlying causes of violent crime, particularly gender‑based violence (GBV) and family breakdown.While a number of death row inmates await his signature, Boko told a kgotla meeting in Kanye on Monday that his focus is on tackling the root causes that lead to such crimes in the first place.“Capital punishment does not resolve the matter. We should go to the root cause of the problem and address it,” he said.Boko remarked, “Ee reka kaletsa, gotswa kgakala go kalediwa. Hare ntse re lela kago kalediwa, are yeng ko moding wa bothata re leke go bo alaha ko moding,” loosely translated to, “Yes, we can hang them, executions have always happened. But as we cry for executions, let us go to the root of the problem and try to fix it there.”The President said many violent incidents, including murders linked to GBV, show clear warning signs long before they escalate, but families, elders and even church leaders often fail to act in time.He noted that some victims, particularly women, have been socialised to believe that abuse is a form of love, a mindset he described as dangerous and destructive.“There are always signs, but they are ignored. Families see them, elders see them, pastors see them, but no one acts quickly. Some women are made to believe that being abused means they are loved,” Boko said.He stressed that intervention must happen early, before situations spiral out of control. He gave the example of a tragic incident in Kanye in which a five‑year‑old child was allegedly killed by his stepfather following a misunderstanding between the stepfather and the child’s biological mother.Boko urged men to take responsibility and be positive role models in their households and communities.He said fathers and male guardians should live lives that their children can be proud of and learn from, warning that violent behaviour by adults often shapes the behaviour of children.“Men must be examples to their children. Lead lives that your children can look up to. What you do today is what they will practice tomorrow,” he said.On the issue of discipline, the President made it clear that he does not support corporal punishment. He said beating children only breeds fear and violence, instead of understanding and respect.“Ga ke dumalane le ngwana o betswang,” he said, meaning, “I do not agree with beating a child.” He added that children respond better to calm guidance and communication than to physical punishment.“Parents can talk to children calmly, and they will listen. Children should be raised in a way that builds them, so that they grow up understanding issues, not responding with violence,” he said.President Boko also emphasised that parenting is a shared responsibility and should not be left entirely to teachers. He warned that when parents are absent from their children’s upbringing, those children are more likely to engage in substance abuse, violence and criminal behaviour later in life.“When parents are not involved in raising their children, those children are the ones who later kill teachers, kill their partners and harm others. Many are on drugs and abusing substances,” he said.According to Boko, a close look at murder cases in the country often reveals a common thread of parental neglect and lack of guidance at home. He argued that GBV starts within households and is often normalised or hidden until it escalates into fatal incidents.“In most cases, GBV begins at home. People experience it, people commit it, but they choose not to report it or avoid dealing with it. By the time it is reported, there is already a body,” he said.Boko called on families, communities, traditional leaders and religious institutions to take a more proactive role in preventing violence by speaking out early, supporting victims and addressing harmful behaviours before they turn deadly.He noted that lasting solutions lie not in punishment alone, but in building strong families, responsible parenting and a culture that rejects violence in all its forms.

Explore

More

News

BEYOND HANGING