14 Sep 2020

One of the Maun based emerging artist, Mr Oletile Manuwel is planning to embark on a sponsored walk in an effort to raise awareness about gender based violence related issues.

The 24-year- old Mr Manuwel, who is the winner of 2013 popular TV program My African Dream revealed in an interview that he had partnered with Shelter Botswana in Maun, a home based care organisation for vulnerable people ,to embark on the initiative.

The sponsored walk themed: Stop Passion Killing, Let Love Lead, is planned to commence on September 30, from Maun ending on October 23 in Shakawe .

He said they would take 23 days to arrive at Shakawe adding that during the walk, they would have some stop- overs where they would engage different groups to discuss on how they could stop gender based violence.

Mr Manuwel explained that he came up with the initiative because incidents of passion killings amongst young people were worrisome as they resulted in some children being orphans.

A lot of young people do not open up and share their problems, something he said could assist them to get help and curb the killings.

He said another contributing factor was that people had become materialistic, entering  relationships solely for material gain and when they fail to get that, they quit the relationship leaving the other partner heartbroken.

The discussion, he said, would mainly target teenagers, school going children, parents and village leaders, noting that they had invited non-governmental organisations such as Women Against Rape (WAR) to drill them on issues of gender based violence.

Mr Manuwel also expressed concern that nowadays parents had neglected their responsibilities of grooming, and providing parental guidance and care to their children hence some ended up becoming delinquent.

Through the sponsored walk, he believed, they would impart information which would guide young people to make well informed decisions about their lives.

“I am an orphan and lived a harsh life on the street because of lack of guidance and support. I don’t want my peers and other young people to fall into the trap and become victims hence the activity,” he added.

He appealed to the business community and public at large to support the event financially, noting that it would change the lives of the community.

Part of the accumulated monies, he said, would be donated to Shelter Botswana to drive its mandate.

Shelter Botswana is involved in several community based activities including HIV/tuberculosis awareness campaigns and the running of a pre-school for orphans and vulnerable children.

The organisation, he noted, needed food to support the orphanage centre, pay utilities such as bills, electricity and water among others. ENDS