19 Aug 2020

Parliament has passed motion that urges the President to set up a Special Inter-Ministerial Committee of inquiry on gender based violence (GBV), rape and other sexual offences as a matter of urgency.

The motion was passed following an amendment that was introduced by Good Hope-Mabule MP, Mr Eric Molale.

The original motion that was tabled by Mahalapye East MP, Mr Yandani Boko, requested  ‘Parliament resolve to urge President to set up a Commission of Inquiry on Gender Based Violence, rape and other sexual offences as a matter of urgency.’

When supporting the amended motion, specially elected MP, Dr Unity Dow said setting up of inter- ministerial committee was a step in the right direction to set up sectoral committees within ministries to be empowered to deal with GBV. 

She said the committee should have clear timelines as to what should be done. 

Dr Dow said as a woman lawyer, she had always been actively involved in the fight against GBV and other related atrocities, hence the motion came at the right time.

MP for Jwaneng - Mabutsane, Mephato Reatile said he was against the motion because inter-ministerial committees had always existed  and resolutions on GBV had gathered dust in offices, without any implementation.

In that regard, he said it was pointless to set up such a committee, which he said had failed the nation before.

Speaking in support of the motion, Letlhakeng-Lephepe MP, Mr Liakat Kablay said rape victims should be protected and that their cases should be held in camera with specialised courts to deal with such.

He also said it was disheartening that there was no piece of legislation that could be used in dealing with GBV perpetrators.

Mr Kablay further stated that decisions taken by the courts should be rational and take into consideration the prevalence of GBV and its effects on survivors.

He was of the view that bail granted to offenders also perpetuated GBV.

 Selebi Phikwe West MP, Mr Dithapelo Keorapetse rejected the motion to set up a ministerial committee, arguing that such committees were ineffective.

Furthermore, he argued that GBV cases were escalating because of inadequacy of laws and implementation polices which speak to GBV.

He said setting up a commission of inquiry was meant to consult Batswana, Non-Governmental Organisations as well as to engage independent minds.

Maun East MP, Mr Goretetse Kekgonegile also rejected the motion, arguing that setting up of commission was in the interest of the public because of broader scope of consulting with Batswana, NGOs and all stakeholders dealing with GBV issues, as opposed to inter-ministerial committee, which solely consisted of government ministers.

He said the inter-ministerial committee would just be an advisory committee without any legal value required in dealing with GBV issues.

Meanwhile, while responding to the motion, Mr Boko rejected the amendment stating that it defeated the intention which he proposed. 

He said the reason for choosing commission of inquiry was that the commission was competent enough to pursue inquiries, had some level of independence, and legal background to deal with inquiries as opposed to a committee.

Furthermore, he stated that inter-ministerial committees had no political will to fight GBV, because they had always existed.

While dismissing the idea to set up a ministerial committee, he suggested that in the meantime, as a matter of urgency, there should be special courts to deal with rape victims, police friendly units to deal with GBV. The motion was subjected to a vote in which 33 MPs agreed to it, 16 rejected it, while nine members were absent. Ends