31 May 2021

 Debswana leaders are committed to promoting gender equality and condemn any act that infringes on anyone’s human right.

The general manager of Orapa, Letlhakane and Damtshaa Mines (OLDM), Mr Bakani Motlhabani said this during a motorcade campaign against gender based violence in Orapa on Saturday.

Mr Motlhabani said through Debswana’s building forever plan, which is the company’s commitment to creating a positive impact that will endure beyond the discovery of the company’s last diamond, they were committed to standing with women, girls and people with disability.

Debswana, he said, continued to partner with a number of stakeholders including Boteti Sub-district and Lucara to raise awareness on Gender Based Violence (GBV) in Boteti.

The mines, he said, had committed P150 000 towards addressing GBV issues in Boteti in 2021, adding that the company had also put in place wellness support initiatives through the employee assistance programme. He noted that it was also open to spouses and dependents.

As an act of solidarity towards GBV, Debswana, he said, had pledged P150 000 to support a national campaign intended to raise awareness on GBV.

He said they believed that a community that was free from GBV was key to achieving some of their mantras which include a work environment that was free of bullying and harassment as well as a work force that was committed to zero harm in the workplace.

He noted that the United Nations Population Fund has established that one in three women were affected by GBV at some point in their life.

He also noted that 67 per cent of women in Botswana have experienced gender based violence, saying it was over double the global average.

Mr Motlhabani said what was more alarming than the continuing surge in GBV cases was the atrocious infliction of physical and emotional distress on women. He said it was concealed in silence while victims were victimised and perpetrators shielded from the long arm of the law.

That, he said, was worsened by not allowing GBV to be exposed and dealt with.

He added that GBV had no place in Orapa and that it required concerted community effort to drive behavioural change geared towards tackling social norms related to gender roles in the tolerance of violence.

“Quite often, we find ourselves in difficult situations because we tolerate things that we should not tolerate. We can only overcome GBV if we act now and act together to protect those affected and raise awareness efforts,” he said.

He said for the company to achieve safety at work, it should start with safety at home, adding that it meant no gender based violence at home. 

He further urged the community of Orapa to speak up against GBV, also imploring them to offer a safe haven and extend a helping hand to the community.

For her part, Assistant Superintendent Lorato Kau of Orapa police said there were 84 GBV cases in Orapa and surrounding areas from January to May 2020. She noted that in 2021 they recorded 37 cases from January to May.

Assistant Superintendent Kau stated that the cases were caused by alcohol and drug abuse, unfaithfulness and multiple concurrent partners.

Commenting, councillor Balopi Chilume said the cases had not reduced, but were simply not reported.

Councillor Chilume stated that the effects of COVID-19, the lockdown and curfew, which confined people to their homes, led to an increase in GBV. ends