22 Nov 2020

Deputy Mayor of Francistown, Mr Ramolotsana Gaethuse has encouraged men to be transparent and talk about issues they faced as that could help them avoid engaging in criminal activities.

Mr Gaethuse said this during the International Men’s Day commemoration in Francistown on November 19, where men gathered to promote positive conversations about men, manhood and masculinity.

The deputy mayor said the commemoration offered an opportune time for men to meet and discuss challenges they encountered and also celebrate their role and impact in society.

Mr Gaethuse pointed out that men had been entrusted with the role of caregivers and family providers, and when things failed to go as planned, they frequently found themselves overwhelmed by too much tension.

He also said men often had difficulty in managing and coping with their temper and emotions, which often resulted in them behaving aggressively against other people.

The deputy mayor highlighted that it was important for men to speak out and avoid violence and killings, adding that men should learn to accept rejection. 

“We as men should learn that it is common and normal for women to reject us and we have to deal with it and move on without killing women,” he said.

Furthermore, he said it was worrisome that in such times that new infections were on the rise, men still feared to seek medical attention on time. 

“We need to step up and take care for our health as men and get help before it is too late because most of us are breadwinners and if it happens that we die, our families will suffer,” he said.

Mr Gaethuse also observed that men were role models for a boy child; hence they needed to be conscious of their acts. 

He also encouraged men to revive the men’s sector and deal with men’s problems through discussions and come up with ways to support one another and curb gender-based violence. 

Jubilee Clinic psychiatric mental health nurse, Ms Serati Chipo underscored the need for men to speak out and break the silence about their problems, adding that men needed to recognise that mental health was critical to their overall well-being. 

“Most people often associate mental health with being ill, yet it revolves around one’s overall mental wellness and this needs to change because there is a lot of stigmatisation around mental health,” she said.

She said that many men today were still observing the social standards that demand a man to be powerful and not reveal his vulnerability or voice out his issues. 

Ms Chipo however explained that society was complex, and men should ask for help and seek therapy because doing so could be a sign of strength than weakness. 

Men who fail to speak out are at a higher risk of developing problems, she said, adding that such men were prone to be suspects of violent offences. 

Ms Chipo encouraged men to observe changes in their moods such as hopelessness, depression and detachment from activities used to give one pleasure, as they could be indicators that one ought to seek support.

Detective Constable Benny Motshegwe of Botswana Police Service Narcotics presented on the types and consequences of drug and alcohol abuse and how they could have an effect on making people irresponsible in society.

He also advised men to build relationships with their children so that they could notice changes in children’s conduct. 

Participants also emphasised the need for men to change societal values and customs that incorporate modern forms and appropriate behaviour.

The objectives of the day focused on men’s and boys’ health, improving gender relations, promoting gender equality and the creation of positive male role models. Ends