Former local government Assistant Minister retired from active politics still fighting for abortion to be legalized in Botswana. So determined was Mma Tshireletso that she was even lobbying for the setting up of a legal abortion facility in the country to enable women to freely terminate unwanted pregnancies. She expressed concern that the number of deaths resulting from unsafe abortion in Botswana was alarming and could only be mitigated by legalising abortion.

At some point statistics sourced from Princess Marina Hospital shows that of the various abortions the hospital handled in a year, Incomplete Abortions were the highest with 1304 cases while Inevitable Abortions stood at 99. In addition, Threatened Abortion cases reached 130; Missed Abortions were at 81, Complete Abortion cases were 62 and Septic Abortion cases stood at 141 – just in one year.

The then legislator saw no point in forcing women to keep babies they did not want, and argued that a lot of Batswana were still crossing to South Africa for the safe abortion service. Why make a woman endured a period of an unwanted pregnancy only for her to give birth and dump the baby, she would ask. This issue of abortion has been a controversial subject of social debate. Others argue that life begins at the moment of conception, and therefore abortion is equivalent to murder. It has become a matter of religious opinion to some extent. But wena wa reng, dear reader? What is your opinion on this matter of abortion being so legal that a pregnant woman can just decide ooops, I don’t think I need this baby any more, I am going to the abortion centre to terminate this pregnancy? Remember in Botswana abortion is illegal but allowed under special circumstances where the act will save the woman’s life, if the pregnancy gravely endangers the woman’s physical or mental health, or if it is a result of rape or incest. Anything else, nope! And such permitted abortions should be performed within 16 weeks of pregnancy – not after! As usual, share your opinions on the matter at