| Since Botswana is a democratic republic, it can be | | | | to registered organizations. Those who do not |
| expected that religious freedoms are respected. | | | | register face penalties like fines and imprisonment. |
| Given the different religions that are practiced in the | | | | These religious groups are allowed to construct their |
| country, it can be said that religious freedoms are not | | | | own places of worship where they can congregate. |
| only respected, but are also protected. | | | | The relationships among religious groups can be |
| Religions in Botswana | | | | considered generally amicable. |
| Botswana has an estimated population of about | | | | Restrictions |
| 1,611,000 people. Half of the population in Botswana | | | | As the government respects the right to religious |
| consider themselves Christian. This 50 percent is | | | | freedom, it also respects the right of people to |
| further divided into Anglicans, Methodists, Lutherans, | | | | practice their religion without the intervention of |
| Roman Catholics, Mormons, Adventists, Jehovah?s | | | | people of other faiths. In this light, the government |
| Witnesses, Baptists and other Christian | | | | does not tolerate religions that foster violence |
| denominations. The majority of the other 50 percent | | | | against other religions. For example, if a religion is |
| practice traditional religious beliefs, while two to three | | | | found to be encouraging its members to do violent |
| percent of this percentage is Muslim. The level of | | | | crimes against members of other religions, they may |
| atheism, which is very unpopular, remains unknown. | | | | be denied registration by the government. The only |
| Religious freedom and attitudes | | | | time that government can suspend the right of |
| The government in Botswana adheres to and | | | | religious freedom is if it is in the interest of national |
| respects the policy of freedom of religion. Apart | | | | security and order. |
| from this, the government not only protects this | | | | Botswana is a good example of a country that |
| right but also protects this right against abuse. The | | | | respects the right of religious freedom. By instituting |
| state has also not prescribed a state religion. Religious | | | | mechanisms by which this right is protected for all its |
| organizations are required to register with the | | | | citizens, the government of Botswana has been able |
| government, specifically to the Ministry of Home | | | | to maintain good relationships among religious groups, |
| Affairs. However, the state does not offer benefits | | | | which greatly contributes to the country's stability. |