Chief Justice Gaolapelwe Ketlogetswe’s decision to sentence Simba Mampori to two life terms for the murders of two women has again brought to light the question as to whether Botswana is beginning to move away from capital punishment. And whether this could mark a turning point under President Duma Boko’s administration.
Mampori, already on death row for the separate murder of another girlfriend, was convicted of killing Tshegofatso Namoshe in 2016 and Matlhogonolo Moshashu in 2019. The brutality of the crimes, including his use of Moshashu’s blood to write “Ke lapile ka maaka” on a wall, makes the sentences look like a slap on the wrist.
The ruling comes against the backdrop of a presidency opposed to capital punishment. It inevitably raises questions about whether Boko’s Administration could gradually reconsider a practice that remains deeply contentious, particularly in cases involving brutal murders.
The crucial question is whether Boko’s opposition will translate into concrete action to abolish the death penalty, or whether executions will remain a feature of Botswana’s justice system despite his personal convictions.
The crucial question is whether Boko’s opposition will translate into concrete action to abolish the death penalty, or whether executions will remain a feature of Botswana’s justice system despite his personal convictions.
Mampori’s existing death sentence remains a separate matter; the two life terms do not automatically overturn it. Whether he will eventually be executed also rests with President Boko, whose attitude towards capital punishment is widely known.
Will another death-row convict be hanged under this administration?
It is too early to tell. But if the government is to abandon capital punishment, it must move beyond symbolism and initiate an open, transparent national debate on abolition, justice for victims and public safety.
