2017 in Botswana explained

Events in the year 2017 in Botswana.

Incumbents

• • President: Ian Khama Vice President: Mokgweetsi Masisi

Events

• 3 April  - An earthquake of magnitude 6.5 occurred in the Central District of Botswana.^[1]
• In September 2017, the Botswana High Court ruled that the refusal of the Registrar of National Registration to change a transgender man's gender marker was "unreasonable and violated his constitutional rights to dignity, privacy, freedom of expression, equal protection of the law, freedom from discrimination and freedom from inhumane and degrading treatment". LGBT activists celebrated the ruling, describing it as a great victory.^{[2] [3]} At first, the Botswana Government announced it would appeal the ruling, but decided against it in December, supplying the trans man with a new identity document that reflects his gender identity.^[4]

A similar case, where a transgender woman sought to change her gender marker to female, was heard in December 2017. The High Court ruled that the Government must recognise her gender identity.^[5] She dedicated her victory to "every single trans diverse person in Botswana".

Deaths

• 28 April  - Gofaone Tiro, footballer.^[6]
• 29 April – Herbert Nkabiti, boxer (b. 1981).^[7]
• 22 June – Quett Masire, politician (b. 1925)

Notes and References

1. News: Strong 6.5-magnitude quake strikes Botswana. 30 April 2017. News24. 3 April 2017. 9 April 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170409201154/http://www.news24.com/Africa/News/strong-65-magnitude-quake-strikes-botswana-20170403. dead.
2. Web site: Botswana: Activists Celebrate Botswana's Transgender Court Victory . 2018-03-24 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190621164818/https://allafrica.com/stories/201710090073.html . 2019-06-21 . dead .
3. https://southernafricalitigationcentre.org/2017/09/29/press-release-botswana-high-court-rules-in-landmark-gender-identity-case/ Press Release: Botswana High Court Rules in Landmark Gender Identity Case
4. http://www.mambaonline.com/2017/12/06/sweet-closure-botswana-agrees-recognise-trans-man/ “Sweet closure” as Botswana finally agrees to recognise trans man
5. Web site: Botswana to recognise a transgender woman's identity for first time after historic High Court ruling . https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220501/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/botswana-gaborone-transgender-identity-lgbt-rights-legabibo-court-law-a8114991.html . 2022-05-01 . subscription . live . independent.co.uk . 18 December 2017.
6. Web site: Township Rollers' Gofaone Tiro collapses and dies . 28 April 2017 . 1 May 2017.
7. Web site: Botswana boxer Herbert Nkabiti has died . Kwese.espn.com . 30 April 2017. 30 April 2017.