Former Botswana president supports legalising homosexuality

Former president of Botswana Festus Mogae wants the country’s government to decriminalise homosexuality and prostitution to prevent the spread of HIV.



Mogae, who heads Botswana’s government-backed Aids Council, said it’s difficult to promote safe sex when the two practices are illegal.



He has also called for condoms to be distributed in prisons.



His views are controversial as many conservative Botswana frown upon homosexuality and prostitution.



Botswana has one of the highest HIV/Aids rates in the world with 17 per cent of the population being HIV positive.



Meanwhile, a government spokesman on HIV/Aids said homosexuality and prostitution would remain illegal until wide-ranging consultations, to see whether there was a need to change the law, are concluded.



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