15 Dec 2019

 Vice chairperson for Men Sector, Mr Kesegofetse Oaitse says men should be critical role players in the fight against gender based violence.

Speaking during a Men Sector Pitso held in Gaborone recently, Mr Oaitse said men should strive to build strong homes for their partners and children to ensure a more balanced society.

‘Men have the responsibility to promote peace and nurture strong value systems in the home so that there is more happiness for women and children,’ he said.

Mr Oaitse emphasised that men should avoid being perpetrators in violence against women and children, including spreading diseases, divorce and other social ills that affect communities today.

He also noted that while women had strong advocacy systems, men still had a long way to go in reporting violence perpetrated against men, noting that statistics showed that 67 per cent of women had at least suffered physical violence while 40 per cent of men were reportedly facing emotional and verbal violence.

Mr Oaitse added that compared to other countries, statistics in Botswana were still high which indicated strong variances in the causes of GBV in Botswana as opposed to other countries.

He noted the happiness index compiled by the World Health Organisation, had listed Botswana as one of the unhappiest countries due to the high number of GBV cases. He added that women and children in Botswana could be unhappy because they were being abused.

Mr Oaitse said religion could be a main counter-force for gender based violence since it enforced a conscience which could counter violence against women and children.

 The majority of the participants in the Pitso seemed to agree that religion could help curb GBV as pastor Kabelo Moilwe gave his views on spirituality verses behavioral change.

According to Mr Moilwe, fundamental religious beliefs that address men’s genetic make-up could be directed towards ensuring that men take care of their partners and children from an enlightened Christian stand-point.

Mr Moilwe clarified that while men and women existed as equal species, they were complimentary in their design, noting that they should be cognizant of their roles so that they nurture a peaceful co-existence.

He emphasised that men should accept that women were different and should strive to cherish and understand the differences in order to promote peace and security in the home.

Mr Moilwe noted that cultural antecedents that promoted men as the head of the family and Lobola had enforced the belief that men owned their partners which was detrimental to a cohesive and fully functioning family unit.

Mr Moilwe emphasised that men and women could accept their differences and exist together while complimenting their strengths and weaknesses.

The managing director for Men and Boys, Mr Lunga Desmond emphasised the need to have strong caucuses that deal with abuse. Ends