15 Aug 2021

Vice President Slumber Tsogwane says government takes the national gender based violence (GBV) response seriously.

Therefore, it was in that regard that government established the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Gender Based Violence (GBV), rape and other sexual offences.

Answering questions from Francistown South MP, Mr Wynter Mmolotsi, the Vice President stated that the committee was established in December 2020 after Parliament adopted a motion to that effect.

Mr Tsogwane said the terms of reference for the committee included strengthening institutional capacity for implementation of the National Strategy Towards Ending Gender Based Violence, addressing existing gender issues and concerns to ensure that programmes and policies were compliant to gender equity objectives and prevent emergence of gender-based imbalances.

Others included coordinating an effective multi-sectoral response to gender and development issues as well as the mitigation of GBV impact at various levels of the society, establishing sectoral GBV response structures including reporting mechanisms, providing strategic direction and gainful mobilisation of resources to address gender issues including GBV.

The committee would also be monitoring implementation of programmes, strategies and initiatives for GBV response.

Mr Tsogwane added that the committee was established in two tiers, being the minister’s level chaired by Minister of Nationality, Immigration and Gender Affairs (MNIG) and the technical/experts level with 21 members chaired by permanent secretary in the Ministry of Nationality, Immigration and Gender Affairs.

The technical/experts committee comprises key government ministries, dikgosi, baruti, civil society organisations, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), business community, media, trade unions and academia.

Mr Tsogwane said even though GBV remained a challenge in Botswana, it was not a pandemic.

Parliament also learnt that money totalling over P2.8 million was allocated for fighting GBV, in the 2021/22 financial year and to date, Botswana Police Service had received a total of 753 cases from nine magistrate courts, of which 219 had been concluded.

Mr Tsogwane noted that eight courts without magistrates registered 756 GBV cases of which 233 had been concluded.

As such, he indicated that government was fully aware of the rampant increase in the number of GBV cases, therefore in collaboration with key stakeholders it was committed to fighting the GBV scourge.

Mr Tsogwane also informed Parliament that to address the recent upsurge of GBV cases, the chief justice in November last year, issued a directive pursuant to the State of Emergency Powers (COVID-19) for the setting up of special courts dedicated to GBV in all chief magistrate stations across the country.

He stated that the specialised GBV courts continued to deal with cases registered with them and had concluded some of such cases, indicating that a total of 753 cases were before the courts out of which 219 had been concluded.

Mr Tsogwane also indicated that all police stations across the country had always catered for the need to handle GBV cases in a special way to protect the victims.

In that regard, he said GBV cases reports were attended in secluded rooms and through the Botswana Police Service, government established a Gender and Child Protection Branch as of April 1, 2021, headed by a director (senior assistant commissioner). The branch has representation at all levels of the organisation, with a total staff compliment of 184 officers at division, district and police station levels.

Mr Tsogwane said the primary mandate of the branch is to handle GBV and child abuse cases as well as increase police capacity to combat violence and abuses.

“It is also mandated to enhance coordination of specialised services rendered by internal and external stakeholders. Specifically, the branch supports investigations of gender-based violence related offences and ensures upholding of the rights of children who are in contact with the law as well as assist with the care of victims,” he said.

Furthermore, Mr Tsogwane indicated that capacitation of officers to enhance their ability and professionalism in handling GBV cases was ongoing. ENDS