Protest Rocks Botswana Over Moves To Legalise Same-sex Relations | by AMAKA Editorial

Nnenna Ibeh

Protesters have taken to the streets of Gaborone, the capital city of Botswana, in a demonstration against legislation seeking to legalise same-sex marriage and activities in the country.

Led by some religious groups, the protesters marched on the streets while making their opposition against a bill seeking to comply with a court ruling in favour of LGBTQ+ rights in 2019 known to the public.

Demonstrators from the Coalition of Botswana Christian Churches chants slogans against homosexuality. Photo courtesy: Monirul Bhuiyan, Getty Images

Also holding placards with several inscriptions, the protesters said they were on the streets "to protect the rights of our children" following the bill proposal, which they said "would open floodgates of immorality and abomination."

Pastor Pulafela Mabiletswane Siele of the Evangelical Fellowships of Botswana, while delivering a petition to the Botswana parliament on behalf of the demonstrators, says, "We urge our parliament to opt for a referendum regarding this matter."

He continues, "Our view is not that we hate them; our view is that it is a law that is not going to benefit us as a nation."

Other African countries and gay toleranceThis protest in the southern African nation comes on the heels of the passage of an anti-gay law by Ugandan president, Yoweri Museveni, on May 29. The law has been described as a 'harsh' anti-gay law by civil society organisations across the globe.

Similarly, in Kenya, an opposition MP, George Peter Kaluma, is leading a campaign for the criminalisation of LGBTQ+ activities with up to 14 years imprisonment for anyone caught in the same-sex act.

CSOs have also criticised the campaign by Kaluma with a coalition urging the United States of America to pause the launch of the US- Kenya Strategic Trade and Investment Partnership (STIP).

Nnenna Ibeh

Protesters have taken to the streets of Gaborone, the capital city of Botswana, in a demonstration against legislation seeking to legalise same-sex marriage and activities in the country.

He continues, "Our view is not that we hate them; our view is that it is a law that is not going to benefit us as a nation."

Similarly, in Kenya, an opposition MP, George Peter Kaluma, is leading a campaign for the criminalisation of LGBTQ+ activities with up to 14 years imprisonment for anyone caught in the same-sex act.

CSOs have also criticised the campaign by Kaluma with a coalition urging the United States of America to pause the launch of the US- Kenya Strategic Trade and Investment Partnership (STIP).