The family of Lesedi Molapisi is pinning their hopes on an appeal after she was sentenced to death for drug trafficking in Bangladesh on Monday.
Goitsemodimo Molapisi, Lesedi’s father, told News24 that both Amnesty International, which opposes capital punishment in all cases, and the Botswana government, which supports the death penalty for such offenses, have initiated the appeal process.
“As a family, we have left the matter to the government. It will appeal on our behalf. Amnesty International is also at the forefront of this issue,” said Goitsemodimo Molapisi, who is the commander of the Botswana Police Service at Shakawe Police Station.
Lesedi was arrested in 2022 at Bangladesh’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, where she was found carrying 3.145 kg of heroin. She had arrived on a Qatar Airways flight from South Africa via Doha.
Following her arrest, Botswana’s Foreign Affairs Minister Lemogang Kwape informed the media that an envoy would be sent to check on her, but he noted that Botswana could not influence Bangladeshi laws.
After the sentence was handed down, Botswana’s President Mokgweetsi Masisi pledged support for the Molapisi family if they intended to appeal. “What is left is an appeal. We will facilitate and provide counseling to the family and offer some financial support to enable the final appeal,” Masisi told reporters.
Amnesty International opposes the death penalty in all circumstances, regardless of the nature of the crime or other factors. In Botswana, where capital punishment is legal, the Molapisi case has reignited interest in ongoing constitutional amendments. Executions in Botswana are carried out by hanging.
Masisi pointed out that there is general support for the death penalty in Botswana for serious offenses like drug smuggling. “I must also remind you that, even in our consultation of the constitutional review, Botswana expressed a similar view to the country where she is being sentenced. There are strong sentiments about involvement in the drug trade,” he said.
Currently, there are 16 death row inmates in Botswana, including Thato Tsametse, who was sentenced to death by the Lobatse High Court on May 23 for the 2018 murder of his 16-year-old cousin for insurance money.
The Botswana Centre for Human Rights condemned the sentencing of Tsametse and the other 15 inmates awaiting execution.
