13 Feb 2022

Teenage pregnancy is reportedly growing at an alarming rate  with Ngamiland region recording close to 400  cases every quarter  and almost 2 000 per year. 

This was said North West District Aids Coordinator, Mr Kebabonye Thamuku at the youth stakeholder dialogue in Maun on recently. 

The sad reality,  he said was that 40 per cent of the pregnancies were a result of defilement, even though some cases were not reported.

He told learners in attendance that sexual education was meant to raise awareness, not for them to explore what they learnt in class. 

 Participants at the dialogue expressed concern over unreported cases of defilement by some parents.

 Even worse, they said defilemnt perpatrators were protected by some parent and also threaten wittnesses to withdraw from   defilement  cases.

 Ms Patience Matlhole Maun administrative authority social worker, said there were incidents where  witnesses withdrew from cases because perpetrators had threatened  them.

She said the threats reached schools where teachers were told to stop reporting defilement cases to the relevant authorities.

Ms Matlhole indicated that it was important to alert the police and social workers whenever a child under 18 fell pregnant, no matter the circumstances.

She urged parents and close family members to stop protecting sex offenders who threatened to harm them if they reported a crime.

The social worker further discouraged elders to desist from delegating parental responsibilities to minors while they relocate to cattle posts and cities, saying such exposed children to sexual abuse by some men. 

Ms Matlhole urged students to seek help from social workers and guidance and counselling teachers, whenever they experience a communication gap from their parents.

While Ngamiland PTA chairperson, Ms Onkutule Tshekiso said that some parents exposed their children to abuse by allowing them to have relationships with elderly men in exchange of  food and other goodies. 

This, she said was disappointing because the same families threatened whoever tried report the matter.

Ms Tshekiso stated that in many instances, members of the public turned a blind eye on such cases because families connive with the perpetrators to conceal cases of defilement.

She said that it was parent’s responsibility  to protect a child at all times, warning parents against protecting offenders at the expense of children.

The chairperson called for concerted efforts from parents, teachers and the community in the wellbeing of children, adding that this would ensure that children excel academically.

He said that children’s should go  to school and not be involved in relationships. Ends