17 Mar 2020

 Men Care programme, a global fatherhood campaign, has been described as opportune with long lasting benefits.

 Officiating at the programme’s graduation ceremony in Ghanzi recently, former health and wellness minister, Dr Alfred Madigele said it would build a generation of responsible citizens.

“What you did was not for project implementation, it was for your own good,” he told the 12 graduating fathers.

Dr Madigele thanked British Council for supporting the initiative and challenged other organisations to come on board, adding “it is not only about finances, it is about hand holding, in our quest to social justice”.

He also expressed gratitude to all those involved in the programme saying their contribution would bear visible and long lasting benefits.

For her part, deputy Ghanzi Court president, Ms Annah Rankho, called for abandonment of norms and traditions perpetuating women abuse.

She said Setswana cultural norms reflected in words and statements that gave license for women abuse needed to be reviewed.Ms Rankho said for women to have a chance to participate in the development of the country, they had to be recognised, given responsibilities and treated as their male counterparts.

She said the ideal man was a role model, coach or mentor, cared for women, was  accountable, generous, patient, respectful and left a good legacy.

 A man should be a refuge and shield for a woman, she said.

British High Commission representative, Ms Lefakae Seitshiro stated that fatherhood  went beyond material needs.

One of the graduating fathers, Mr Kagiso Mokgele said the programme should be rolled out to other sectors such as Botswana Police Service.

“As a police officer I can confirm that women are abused, they have been turned into punching bags,” he said.

Men & Boys for Gender Equality (MBGE) leader, Mr Diamond Lunga said the initiative sought a change of mindset.

Mr Lunga challenged graduating fathers to establish more groups to spread the initiative adding that it should start with celebrating responsible men.  Another MBGE official, Mr Arnold Nthokwa, said the programme was intended to have nonviolent fathers and to promote caregivers in order to achieve family wellbeing and gender equality.

Targeting expectant men and fathers, he said the programme initially had 180 males but numbers had since declined drastically. Ends