Gays, lesbians withdraw case against Batshu

Twenty lesbians, gays and bisexuals who had taken the Minister of Labour and Home Affairs Edwin Batshu to court challenging his decision not to register their association have withdrawn their case. Deputy Attorney General Morulaganyi Chamme told the Sunday Standard that “yes I can confirm that the law suit by LEGABIBO has been withdrawn.” Chamme says the notice of withdrawal was sent to the Attorney Generals Chambers by Lesego Nchunga of Dow and Associates who was appearing on behalf of Lesbians, Gays and Bisexuals of Botswana (LEGABIBO). A representative of LEGABOBO has however denied any knowledge of withdrawal of the case.” Chamme, however, insisted that “But that is the information we have received from the lawyer who appeared on their behalf and until we receive another correspondence on the matter saying something different we will believe this”, he said. In their widely published suit, LEGABIBO had wanted High Court judge Terence Rannowane to amongst other things declare that the decision by Minister Batshu to refuse to register LEGABIBO contravened Section 3 of the Constitution of Botswana in so far as the decision denied the applicants equal protection before the law. Further that the Court should declare an earlier decision by former Minister of Labour and Home Affairs Peter Siele to also refuse to register them to be in contradiction of section 12 of constitution of Botswana as the said decision has an effect of hindering applicants in their enjoyment of their freedom of speech.