16 Nov 2020

Former Lobatse mayor, Ms Malebogo Kruger has urged the society to nip abuse in the bud because it left permanent damage on the minds and self-esteem of victims.

Speaking during the Bethlehem City of Christ Church in Zion (BCCCZ) southern region meeting on November 14 in Lobatse, she called on the church community to find ways to address gender based violence (GBV) in churches and the society as a whole.

Ms Kruger, who is also a former gender commissioner for Botswana Association of Local Authorities (BALA), pointed that ‘here are various forms of abuse happening in our society. 

These include emotional, sexual, physical, financial and verbal abuse. There is also social abuse, which comes from the society,” said Ms Kruger, who is currently a nominated councillor at Lobatse Town Council. 

She said speaking in a negative way about people’s physical appearance also constituted emotional abuse.  

She therefore urged the society to desist from using words that taunt the physical appearance of others because it might cause them to either lose their self-esteem or live with anger or depression.

She said people who had suffered emotional abuse in the past usually turned violent when they grow up.

“Some of them end up abusing their partners and children, while others even become abusive to their colleagues at work,” she said. 

Ms Kruger said children should be sensitised about abuse to help them escape the pitfalls of GBV. 

She further called on victims of GBV to report to the police instead of suffering in silence.

“It is important as church members to speak out about all forms of abuse and help those who get abused in our community. You should pick up the phone and report to the police when you see a neighbour being abused,” she said.

She commended the BCCCZ leadership for taking time to speak about the issue of GBV in its meeting. 

The BCCCZ church elder and chairperson in Botswana, Mr Reuben Tshenolo said their church was concerned about incidents of GBV in the society, which he said they showed by donating P5 000 to the COVID-19 relief fund earlier this year. Ends