Botswana religious and traditional groups oppose same-sex marriage legalization
via SeneNews2 min read
Religious and traditional groups in Botswana are opposing the legalization of same-sex marriage, a move initiated by a lawsuit filed by a lesbian couple, Bonolo Selelo, 41, and Tsholofelo Kumile, 39. The couple is challenging the marriage law, arguing it is unconstitutional because it specifies that only a "bride" and a "groom" can marry. They were denied permission to register their marriage in 2025 and advised to marry in South Africa. This case could significantly impact cultural perceptions of LGBTQ+ rights in the region. The influential association Dingwetsi, which promotes marriage and opposes divorce, stated that customary law in Botswana only recognizes marriage between a man and a woman. The Evangelical Fellowship of Botswana, representing 75 churches, also voiced opposition, stating that same-sex marriage goes against the beliefs of its Christian members. In 2019, Botswana's High Court decriminalized homosexuality, which previously carried a maximum sentence of seven years in prison. South Africa is the only country on the continent that recognizes same-sex marriage, although homosexuality has been decriminalized in Botswana, Angola, Lesotho, and Mozambique. Out of 54 African countries, only about twenty do not currently criminalize same-sex relationships, while others like Uganda, Senegal, and Niger have recently strengthened anti-LGBT+ laws.
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