11 Dec 2019

Women have been implored to be bold when advancing gender based violence (GBV) issues.

Botswana Police Service’s Senior Superintendent Sarah Gabathusi said this in Letlhakane during a recent campaign to sensitise churches on 16 days of activism against gender based violence.

The police from north central division joined forces to educate, sensitise and create awareness on gender based violence issues.

Snr Supt Gabathusi, also chairperson of North Central Division Women Network, urged women to lobby for spiritual intervention on gender based violence issues.

She called on men to support their partners by attending church services with them.

Gender based violence, she said, was caused by men’s insecurity, which was sometimes fuelled by lower salary than his female counterpart. 

Lack of consultation on financial issues, she said, was also one the issues that caused gender based violence.

Snr Supt Gabathusi stated that it was important to raise children under a family free from violence, noting that a family characterised by violence raised children who would turn out to be violent.

She urged members of the public to lead by example in ensuring that gender based violence was addressed in Botswana.

She said church leaders should segregate the church in to groups aimed at addressing gender based violence.

Boteti recorded 87 cases on rape and defilement last year.

Sergeant Onkemetse Mangena from Mahalapye Police Station called on parents to keep have a close relationship with their children so that they could understand their mood swings.

Sergeant Mangena stated that children exposed to abuse at a very young age were left with a scar that impacted negatively on their character. Ends