18 Oct 2018

Vice President Slumber Tsogwane will join the Maun community to walk against gender based violence, passion killings and rape on October 21.

Minister of Nationality, Immigration and Gender Affairs, Ms Dorcas Makgato, Maun leadership and other senior government officials are also expected to grace the massive occasion, whose aim is to curb the escalating incidents of rape, passion killings and murder in Maun.

The walk, which will be held under the theme: Maun Says No to Passion Killings and Rape,  is organised by Maun police, in collaboration with the Department of Gender Affairs, Women Against Rape, Men Sector and the village leadership.

The event will be held at an open space in front of Mr Markus’ family residence near Boseja shopping complex. 

In an interview, deputy district commissioner, Ms Goitseone Nkwe-Tabane explained that the walk was prompted by the recent spate of gender based violence-related issues, with Maun leading the country in the number of such incidents.

Since January, she said 100 women, including young girls, had been raped, while 10 women lost their lives due to passion killings. 

“The statistics are scary and worrisome as they do not represent our reputation well as the Maun community, hence we found it fit to take action to sensitise the community,” she added.

Ms Nkwe-Tabane stated that the event would attract religious organisations, civil society, government sector, parastatals, business community and the community, adding that the walk starts at 6:30am.

She said they had identified two routes, one on the eastern side and another on the western side of Maun in an effort to reach more people.

She appealed to churches and other organisations to wear their branded attire so that they could be visible. 

Meanwhile, in a recent interview, District No.5 Officer Commanding, Senior Superintendent Peter Gochela revealed that incidents of murder, rape and passion killings were worrisome in his policing area.

He said it was frustrating as some people lost their lives just because they wanted to end relationships, adding that the number of women who lost their lives may seem small, but stressed that losing one’s life was disheartening.

Senior Superintendent Gochela stressed the need to embark on a thorough public education, to sensitise the communities about the importance of respecting human rights.

He said it was disturbing that some men failed to accept and respect their partners’ decisions, especially when one wanted to end an affair, adding that most of the time they develop anger and jealousy. ENDS