16 Nov 2016

District No 8 policing area is said to have recorded an escalation of sexual and assault cases.

Divisonal Commander North Central, Mr Christopher Mbulawa said during gender based violence (GBV)workshop held in Letlhakane on November 14.  He stated that most of the villians were males with women and children on the receiving end.

Mr Mbulawa said in cases of rape, which topping the list of sexual violence, some perpetrators were ex-boyfriends, acquaintances or even strangers.

He said it was heartbreaking to note that some victims were children as young as seven years old, who were sexually assaulted by their step fathers or their mothers or even by their uncles.

Mr Mbulawa said they came up with strategies that would challenge and persuade perpetrators of these offences to change their behaviour.

He said it was also sad to underscore that some of the rape cases occur after both parties would have had a drinking spree at shebeens or any other drinking hole.

The heart breaking developments, he said called for collaboration to fight against the problem.

Mr Mbulawa said it should be acknowledged that violence against women and children was not government’s problem alone, but a societal challenge. Failure to give it attention as society, he said might perpetuate the scourge.

He indicated that although Botswana prided herself for a functional criminal justice system, some victims of GBV, were lured by wrong doers to withdraw cases.

He urged all to stand up and discourage the attitude since it weaken the rule and exacerbated GBV.

Mr Mbulawa said integrated response system was critical to effective victim support, and it included availability of appropriate medical, legal and psychological services.

He cited that access to services for all, taking in to account the individual needs of victims was critical as much as opportunities for redress.

Furthermore, he stated that to ensure that GBV ended should create a future where children and women’s lives were not overshadowed by violence, but rather an environment where women and children were to make decisions for themselves.

The chairperson North Central Division women network, Officer Commanding No8 district, Senior Superintendent Sarah Gabathuse said the objectives of the workshop were to encourage stakeholders to refer GBV victims to report GBV issues.

Snr Supt Gabathuse said the other objective was to sensitise and empower key stakeholders about issues of gender based violence with an aim to reduce GBV incidents.

She said it was intended to promote partnership between the BPS and other stakeholders on handling GBV issues.

In addition, rape cases in District No 8 policing area stood at 192, defilement 15, assault common 218, grevious harm nine, murder four and threat to kill five.

Snr Supt Gabathuse stated that as women network of North/Central division, identified that figures of GBV were high, came up with a project to source ideas from key stakeholders working in collaboration with other stakeholders. BOPA