20 Oct 2020

 People have been encouraged to instantly report gender based violence incidents.

An official from BOCAIP in Gumare, Ms Kgalalelo Gambule, said told a recent GBV workshop that communities tended to harbour incidents such as rape and incest.

She said it was wrong to try to resolve GBV matters at home, citing examples of incest and child molestation that when not reported to police, could become an impediment to the war against GBV.

“Victims of such, often have anger issues, aggressiveness, low self-esteem and damaged confidence, among others,” she said.

Okavango Sub-district AIDS coordinator, Mr Samuel Kenaape, also criticised GBV.

He said cases of teenage pregnancy were worrisome in Okavango Sub-district.

He said between April and June, the district recorded 90 cases of teenage pregnancy and 1 261 cases of sexually transmitted infections.

Mr Kenaape commended people of Qangwa and Xaixai as their areas seldom recorded HIV infection cases.

He blamed intergenerational relationships and multiple partners among others as factors contributing to HIV spread.

“There are also some weird beliefs or culture in this area that sleeping with a virgin girl can make someone’s cattle to multiply, hence old men sleep with young girls.

This puts the young girls at the risk of HIV infection by old men,” he said.

A report from Gumare police indicated that from January to August 2019, they recorded seven cases of rape while the same period this year they recorded two.

They also recorded five cases of defilement this year, while last year there was none. ENDS