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Botswana: Over 2000 Batswana imprisoned for debt since 2018

A total of 2384 Batswana have been put under civil imprisonment as debtors since Mokgweetsi Masisi assumed office as president in 2018, The Botswana Gazette has established.

Responding to a question from the MP for Selibe-Phikwe West, Dithapelo Keorapetse, the Minister of Justice Machana Shamukuni attributed the judgement debtors to a rise in unemployment, lack of financial literacy and increased cost of living. Despite calls for a revision of the policy in the face of increasing numbers of judgment debtors, Minister Shamukuni said so far there is no consideration to change the position of the law.