17 Nov 2016

Gender-based violence (GBV) is a national concern that requires concerted efforts to deal with it.

Speaking during a gender-based violence workshop in Serowe on November 16, Senior Assistant Commissioner Christopher Mbulawa, said time was ripe to find lasting solutions rather than spending time enumerating various causes and excuses that fuelled the violence.

Mr Mbulawa informed stakeholders that women could no longer withdraw rape cases at police stations since the police no longer had the powers to discharge such but the courts of law.

“We have experienced situation where after reporting rape cases to the police, women would come to us, sometimes with a host of relatives to negotiate withdrawal of the reported cases claiming that it was a family matter that has been dealt with at that level,” Mr Mbulawa said.

The north central divisional commander said anger was a choice and reminded GBV perpetrators of their responsibilities to protect women and children saying they often cite anger as a cause to their acts of GBV.

He said despite government’s concerted efforts to nip GBV in the bud, it continues to haunt women and children in large numbers. He cited a local research that found that 67 per cent of women have experienced violence in their lifetime.

Though seeking solutions to the GBV scourge, Mr Mbulawa revealed that police statistics showed that about 2000 women were raped annually.
In his presentation Senior Superintendent Paul Molapisi showed that offence related to gender based violence were high in his district.

Mr Molapise showed that in 2014 there were 223 rape cases, 217 in 2015 and 218 this year.
In 2014 there were 18 murder and attempts cases, 16 last year and 17 this year.

Mr Molapisi said reported incidents of assault occasioning actual bodily harm showed that violence existed. BOPA