Botswana's High Court ruled Tuesday in favour of decriminalising homosexuality, handing down a landmark verdict greeted with joy by gay rights campaigners.
Under the country's 1965 penal code, homosexuality is punishable by a jail term of up to seven years.
But Judge Michael Elburu declared it was time to "set aside" the "provisions of a Victorian era" and ordered the laws be amended.
In a courtroom packed with activists, the judge declared that the current laws oppressed a minority of the population.
"There's nothing reasonable in discriminating," he said.
"We say the time has come that private, same sexuality must be decriminalised."
"It restores privacy, respect and dignity to the country's LGBT people, and it is a day to celebrate pride, compassion and love."
"The question of private morality should not be the concerns of the law."
"So we just want to be free to access these services."