Botswana's ex-President Festus Mogae defends gay rights

19 October 2011 Last updated at 11:08 ET Help

Botswana's former President Festus Mogae has broken ranks with conservative views regarding sex workers and homosexuality.

When he was president, Mr Mogae pushed for free anti-retroviral therapy and measures to curb mother-to-child Aids transmission.

Now he says it is time to confront issues of gays rights and prostitution - matters that are rarely spoken about in public.

He is also calling for the distribution of condoms in prisons. He told the BBC's Letloghile Lucas why.

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