20 Jun 2021

 Stop Gender Based Violence (GBV), Stop Romanticizing Violence, End the Silence, End the Violence, No is no, Enough is enough; were among messages that were displayed at Mabesekwa kgotla during service providers’ legal training workshop on Wednesday, which marked the Day of the African Child.

Incidents of defilement, that have over the years been recorded at  the small village, situated 67 kilometres west of Tonota, caught the attention of BONELA and ACHAP, prompting the two organisations to collaborate with other stakeholders among them; Greater Francistown DHMT, Social and Community Development department (S&CD), Botswana Police Services (BPS), Children Protection Community (CPC) to find lasting solutions.

Addressing the workshop, Ms Tshepang Mokani of BONELA noted an incident in which a 13-year-old child was allegedly defiled by an elderly man, saying the incident was the primary reason her organisation shifted its focus towards Mabesekwa.

It is alleged that the perpetrator was a one-time lover of the victim’s now late mother. Ms Mokani stated, without mincing words, that BONELA was not happy with the way the matter had been handled ever since it was brought to the attention of both the police and social and community development department. Little or no progress has been made, she said.

“It is to this end that my office, in collaboration with ACHAP, called relevant stakeholders so that we can be apprised on the matter and many others that have left us overcome with awe,” she said. Her sentiments were shared by the village Child Protection Committee Chairperson, Mr Khutsafalo Sehatholo, who decried gross child neglect in Mabesekwa; something he blamed on illegal drinking spots, where revelers dance the night away on a daily basis.

Efforts to seek lasting solutions to issues of child neglect and defilement, according to Mr Sehatholo, were also foiled by apparent lack of coordination from stakeholders. However, Mr Mompoloki Mathiba from social and community development  office in Tonota stated that everyone was obliged by the Children’s Act to ensure the best interests of the child were upheld at all times.

He advised the community to escalate matters to higher authorities in the event they felt the officers they had reported such matters to were dragging their feet. “Let me also state that this instrument of the law proclaims that failure to report issues involving child neglect, defilement and many such abuses meted upon minors is a violation punishable by law,” he said, adding that the general welfare of the child, whether born in or outside wedlock, was the responsibility of both parents.

The act, he said, addressed children’s rights, including children’s protection from sexual abuse and exploitation of any form. Superintendent Oteng Ngadla of Tonota police told the meeting that the matter involving the defilement of the 13-year-old was still under investigation and he could therefore not reveal much on it. He also told the meeting that the other 17 cases of alleged defilement, alluded to have occurred in Lekoba, fell outside his policing area.

Superintendent Ngadla relayed however that he had referred the matter to Tati Town police in Francistown, under whose jurisdiction Lekoba fell, for further investigations. He also appealed to both parents and victims of abuse to stop defeating the ends of justice “At times upon our investigations victims deny ever having sexual relations with perpetrators, while some parents do not want wrong doers to face the full wrath of the law because they either support them financially or they are family members.

They employ all sorts of tricks to ensure that victims are nowhere to be found during trial,” he lamented. Meanwhile, a 27-year-old allegedly strangled his 21-year-old lover, before hanging himself. The two leave behind a five-month-old child, as confirmed by Superintendent Ngadla. ENDS