In response to the hanging of 28-year-old Joseph Tselayarona for the 2010 murder of his girlfriend and three-year-old son, Deprose Muchena, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for Southern Africa, said:
“Joseph’s execution is a step back for Botswana and it shows the government’s contempt for life. The death penalty is an abhorrent punishment and should never be used in any circumstances.
“While many countries in the region are moving away from this cruel form of punishment, Botswana is regressing.
“The death penalty has no place in the modern era. Instead of executing people, the government of Botswana should immediately establish an official moratorium on executions with a view to abolishing this cruel and inhuman punishment.”
Amnesty International opposes the death penalty in all cases without exception regardless of the nature of the crime, the characteristics of the offender, or the method used by the state to kill the prisoner. The death penalty is a violation of the right to life and the ultimate cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment. Amnesty International calls on Botswana to abolish the death penalty for all crimes as have 105 countries in the world.