13 Oct 2020

Nominated Councillor Modiri Lucas has revealed that a Standard Seven pupil recently gave birth to twins at Nyangabgwe Referral Hospital.

Speaking during a Gender Based Violence (GBV) awareness workshop recently, Cllr Lucas called on the City of Francistown Council to table a motion on the scourge.

He said some people viewed GBV, which could be economical, physical and emotional, as nothing, until the tragedy happened in their homes.

He urged women to stop entering into marriage because of riches, as they may end up being subjects and submissive to violent husbands.

Councillor Lucas requested government to set up courts that dealt with GBV cases, for such cases to be finished within seven days, with perpetrators denied bail, as most always committed similar offences, while on bail.

Councillor for Itekeng Ward, Mr Lesego Kwambala said people should take action when they see, hear or believe that there was a misunderstanding in their neighbourhood or house and report to the police or social workers for assistance.

He said no one should live in fear in Botswana, adding that a single case of violence should show that there was a problem.

“A youth should not give birth or be abused,” he said, adding that most teenagers who fell pregnant, were also HIV positive.

He said GBV cases increased during the COVID-19 lockdown and since the start of #Dinwele Dladleng, saying after getting drunk, people see children as objects for sexual gratification.

Councillor Kwambala said GBV needed to be given the same attention as pandemics, concurring that there should be no bail for perpetrators.

Senior gender affairs officer, Mr Kabelo Tsiang said violence was not acceptable in Botswana, hence the country came up with laws on domestic violence.

He said about 37.1 per cent of women and 17.6 per cent of men in Botswana were abused, adding, however, that the figures were not even accurate, as some people did not report. ENDS