Dark Clouds - HIV/AIDS
Despite Botswana's great start, there are some dark clouds, some of them very, very dark. Perhaps the darkest is the terrible disease. HIV/AIDS. In 2012, it was stated that some 23% of the population are infected, although I have read estimates that the real figure could be closer to 33%. This is one of the worst rates in the world, indeed it is sometimes stated to be THE worst rate in the world.
The reasons are claimed to be various, but include polygamous relationships (husbands with several wives, not the other way around – as usual, of course), multiple sex partners (particularly in relation to men, what a surprise, whose sexual networks are often extremely extensive and, indeed, intergenerational in ways accepted and often encouraged in many communities), unemployment, the continuing inequality of girls and women, the laws against male homosexual sex, labour migration, increased prostitution around diamond mines, and conflict-based displacement from neighbouring countries.
Of course, in a comparatively enlightened country, extensive work is being undertaken to tackle the problem, including educational programs, the provision of free condoms, and particularly the provision of free antiretroviral drugs.
To show the awful impact of this ghastly disease, in 1990 the average life span in Botswana was 64 years. By 2001 this had plummeted to 49 years. But fortunately the fight against HIV/AIDS had raised the average life span to 53 years in 2012. Nonetheless, the figure is still well below that which existed in 1990.
While I used the word “enlightened”, I purposefully did so advisedly. Botswana’s laws and attitudes towards gay men and women in particular, and the LGBTI community in general are little short of ghastly, although I guess it has to be said that this is far from unusual in Africa, and that there are places which are an awful lot worse.
This is particularly so in places where a number of religious groups, particularly, but far from only, christian and islamic, insist that homosexuality is a western disease which we are forcing into Africa. Consequently, some African countries have passed laws enabling homosexual men to be sentenced to death.
No, seriously. I am not joking. This is not something to joke about. As usual, women are left out, but this is undoubtedly a good characteristic of sexism, perhaps the only one.
Nonetheless, in Botswana I suspect there might be a growing inclination towards change, although I would call it no more than an inclination.
I use the word "inclination" purposefully. There are unfortunately very strong negative pressures. For example, the current President at the time of writing (2015) is Ian Khama, Seretse’s son, a former air force general and commander of Botswana’s military forces, and a man unfortunately rather less impressed with democracy than his father. Believe it or not, he has pushed for a more negative approach to gays, and has banned the provision of condoms in prison, which doesn’t do anything for other efforts to reduce the incidence of HIV/AIDS.
Nor, of course, does this attitude do anything to encourage gays to come out and own up to how they’ve come down with HIV/AIDS, nor for targeted education programs to gay communities, because gays won't, indeed can't, safely own up to being part of a gay community.
It needs to be noted, however, that unlike so-called western nations, the spread of HIV/AIDS in Botswana is by far mostly through heterosexual sex.
Further to Ian Khama's retrograde views, in 2011 the Deputy Speaker of the Botswana National Assembly, Pono Moatlhodi, said that if he had the power, he would have those who practice homosexuality killed.
These rather frightening attitudes are not absolute, however, for in 2010 and 2011 former Botswana President Festus Mogae spoke out against sexual discrimination, saying prejudice was hindering efforts to fight HIV: “We do not want to discriminate. Our HIV message applies to everybody. If we are fighting stigma associated with sex, let's apply it to sexual discrimination in general.”
Mogae said that during his 10 years in office, he had instructed police not to arrest or harass gays. Mind you, he said he had not been able to take steps to legalise homosexual sex because to do so would lose him the next election, so perhaps his priorities are clear. Still, that's the case with most democratic politicians.
The U.S. Department of State's 2011 Human Rights Report found that Botswanan police didn’t target same-sex activity, and there were no reports of violence against anyone based on their sexual orientation or gender identity during the year. But it has to be said that just because it was not reported, does not mean it didn’t happen, especially when to report it would mean telling the police, who may be the ones who attacked you, that you undertake illegal activities.
Finally, Botswana's primary LGBTI rights group is LeGaBiBo (Lesbians, Gays and Bisexuals of Botswana). Its ability to raise funds is limited because the relevant government registrar has twice rejected its application to be registered, saying it could not register any group that “is likely to be used for any unlawful purpose or any purpose prejudicial to or incompatible with peace, welfare or good order in Botswana”.
However, in 2013, LeGaBiBo sued the Botswana government to force it to register the organisation. In what has been an almost revolutionary decision, which says much for the Botswanan legal fraternity (by which I include sorority as well, in the hope there are at least some female lawyers in Botswana, as well as a lady detective!), the High Court ruled in November 2014 (just a couple of weeks ago at the time of writing) that LeGaBiBo must be registered.
Justice Terrence Rannoane ruled that LeGaBiBo would be allowed to register and campaign for changes to anti-gay legislation, saying, “In a democratic society such as ours, freedom of expression, assembly and association are important values duly protected by our constitution.”
If only some of his colleagues in neighbouring countries would uphold similar values. And Ian Khama.
The reasons are claimed to be various, but include polygamous relationships (husbands with several wives, not the other way around – as usual, of course), multiple sex partners (particularly in relation to men, what a surprise, whose sexual networks are often extremely extensive and, indeed, intergenerational in ways accepted and often encouraged in many communities), unemployment, the continuing inequality of girls and women, the laws against male homosexual sex, labour migration, increased prostitution around diamond mines, and conflict-based displacement from neighbouring countries.
Of course, in a comparatively enlightened country, extensive work is being undertaken to tackle the problem, including educational programs, the provision of free condoms, and particularly the provision of free antiretroviral drugs.
To show the awful impact of this ghastly disease, in 1990 the average life span in Botswana was 64 years. By 2001 this had plummeted to 49 years. But fortunately the fight against HIV/AIDS had raised the average life span to 53 years in 2012. Nonetheless, the figure is still well below that which existed in 1990.
While I used the word “enlightened”, I purposefully did so advisedly. Botswana’s laws and attitudes towards gay men and women in particular, and the LGBTI community in general are little short of ghastly, although I guess it has to be said that this is far from unusual in Africa, and that there are places which are an awful lot worse.
This is particularly so in places where a number of religious groups, particularly, but far from only, christian and islamic, insist that homosexuality is a western disease which we are forcing into Africa. Consequently, some African countries have passed laws enabling homosexual men to be sentenced to death.
No, seriously. I am not joking. This is not something to joke about. As usual, women are left out, but this is undoubtedly a good characteristic of sexism, perhaps the only one.
Nonetheless, in Botswana I suspect there might be a growing inclination towards change, although I would call it no more than an inclination.
I use the word "inclination" purposefully. There are unfortunately very strong negative pressures. For example, the current President at the time of writing (2015) is Ian Khama, Seretse’s son, a former air force general and commander of Botswana’s military forces, and a man unfortunately rather less impressed with democracy than his father. Believe it or not, he has pushed for a more negative approach to gays, and has banned the provision of condoms in prison, which doesn’t do anything for other efforts to reduce the incidence of HIV/AIDS.
Nor, of course, does this attitude do anything to encourage gays to come out and own up to how they’ve come down with HIV/AIDS, nor for targeted education programs to gay communities, because gays won't, indeed can't, safely own up to being part of a gay community.
It needs to be noted, however, that unlike so-called western nations, the spread of HIV/AIDS in Botswana is by far mostly through heterosexual sex.
Further to Ian Khama's retrograde views, in 2011 the Deputy Speaker of the Botswana National Assembly, Pono Moatlhodi, said that if he had the power, he would have those who practice homosexuality killed.
These rather frightening attitudes are not absolute, however, for in 2010 and 2011 former Botswana President Festus Mogae spoke out against sexual discrimination, saying prejudice was hindering efforts to fight HIV: “We do not want to discriminate. Our HIV message applies to everybody. If we are fighting stigma associated with sex, let's apply it to sexual discrimination in general.”
Mogae said that during his 10 years in office, he had instructed police not to arrest or harass gays. Mind you, he said he had not been able to take steps to legalise homosexual sex because to do so would lose him the next election, so perhaps his priorities are clear. Still, that's the case with most democratic politicians.
The U.S. Department of State's 2011 Human Rights Report found that Botswanan police didn’t target same-sex activity, and there were no reports of violence against anyone based on their sexual orientation or gender identity during the year. But it has to be said that just because it was not reported, does not mean it didn’t happen, especially when to report it would mean telling the police, who may be the ones who attacked you, that you undertake illegal activities.
Finally, Botswana's primary LGBTI rights group is LeGaBiBo (Lesbians, Gays and Bisexuals of Botswana). Its ability to raise funds is limited because the relevant government registrar has twice rejected its application to be registered, saying it could not register any group that “is likely to be used for any unlawful purpose or any purpose prejudicial to or incompatible with peace, welfare or good order in Botswana”.
However, in 2013, LeGaBiBo sued the Botswana government to force it to register the organisation. In what has been an almost revolutionary decision, which says much for the Botswanan legal fraternity (by which I include sorority as well, in the hope there are at least some female lawyers in Botswana, as well as a lady detective!), the High Court ruled in November 2014 (just a couple of weeks ago at the time of writing) that LeGaBiBo must be registered.
Justice Terrence Rannoane ruled that LeGaBiBo would be allowed to register and campaign for changes to anti-gay legislation, saying, “In a democratic society such as ours, freedom of expression, assembly and association are important values duly protected by our constitution.”
If only some of his colleagues in neighbouring countries would uphold similar values. And Ian Khama.
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