GABORONE, Botswana – Botswana on Friday carried out the execution of a man who murdered his girlfriend and young son in 2011.
Phemelo Botogeleng, 34, was executed by hanging, the Botswana Prison Service said in a statement.
The last executions were carried out in February this year when 33-year-old Wedu Mosalagae and 29-year-old Kutlo Setima faced the gallows at Gaborone Central Prison. They had both been sentenced to death in 2019 for murder.
“The Botswana Prison Service wishes to inform the public that the execution of the death penalty passed on Mr Phemelo Botogeleng of Matshotha Ward in Lesenepole was carried out today, Friday 11th June 2021 at Gaborone Central Prison,” a statement by Senior Superintendent Oagile Kojane said.
Botogeleng was convicted of the 2011 double murder of his girlfriend Annah Simon and his son Atang Simon at the Francistown High Court in July last year.
The Court of Appeal threw out his appeal against the sentence in February this year.
Botswana is one of a few countries in the world that still carries out capital punishment.
Following the February executions, Amnesty International’s Deprose Muchena said: “The continued use of the death penalty in Botswana and the sharp rise in executions under President Mokgweetsi Masisi is a chilling reminder of the contempt with which Botswana authorities view the right to life.
“The death penalty is cruel and inhuman, and there is no credible evidence that it has a greater deterrent effect on crime than imprisonment.”
