Botswana’s High Court ruled Tuesday in favour of decriminalising homosexuality, handing down a landmark verdict greeted with joy by gay rights campaigners.
Under the country’s 1965 penal code, homosexuality is punishable by a jail term of up to seven years.
But Judge Michael Elburu declared it was time to “set aside” the “provisions of a Victorian era” and ordered the laws be amended.
In a courtroom packed with activists, the judge declared that the current laws oppressed a minority of the population.
“There’s nothing reasonable in discriminating,” he said.
“We say the time has come that private, same sexuality must be decriminalised.”
“It is a variety of human sexuality,” he said.
Jubilation erupted in the courtroom as the decision was announced, with some campaigners kissing, while others applauded or waved the rainbow flag — a symbol of gay rights.
