18 Oct 2022

 Tonota College of Education (TCE) student community recently paused studies and joined the rest of the nation in the fight gender based violence (GBV).

The event held under the theme: Each One, Teach One, Let us end Gender-Based Violence, was also meant to pay tribute to victims of GBV.

Officiating at the event, Bakhurutshe Deputy Chief, Kgosi Pogiso Sekoko appealed to victims of GBV, especially women to desist from withdrawing such cases.

He said GBV was a very serious offence that had to be dealt with  accordingly. 

Instances, where victims withdraw such cases after reporting them, were therefore not welcome, he said.“Tonota Tribal Administration is inundated with cases of GBV but most of the victims withdraw them because they have kissed and made up with perpetrators,” he said.

Giving a keynote address, Greater Francistown District Health Management Team (DMHT) Coordinator, Dr Ivan Kgetse stated that GBV was among the most dreadful human rights violations known to humanity.

“It is complex and often systemic in its occurrence. Some of our cultural norms and contemporary beliefs perpetuate this phenomenon, and as a society. We cannot stand on the sidelines and watch our mothers, our fathers, our sisters and brothers and our children being denied the right to life, the right to health and well-being as well as the freedom of association by those they are supposed to trust and live with,” he said.

The COVID-19 pandemic, which at some point confined people in their homes, he revealed had drastically increased cases of GBV.

Dr Kgetse explained that defilement was the leading violation across the country as evidenced by reports from various service providers.Statistics recorded by Tonota Botswana Police Service in collaboration with the department of Social Welfare from April 2022 to date indicate that there were nine cases of rape, 14 cases of defilement, three cases of threat to kill, 85 cases of physical abuse and nine cases of child neglect.

The cases, he said were a direct result of undesirable social behaviours that must be targeted for practical solutions.

He said a multi-sectoral approach to GBV was therefore crucial to develop strategies to prevent, protect, alleviate and provide care and support to survivors.

He mentioned among others; social and behaviour change, community involvement, male involvement, legal and judicial protection, psychosocial support and rehabilitation as ways that could be employed to stem GBV.

In her welcome remarks, the TCE Principal, Ms Martha Sereetse said GBV compromised the health and dignity of victims and violated the law of God to love one another.

“It is disheartening that this form of violence affects defenseless people such as women and the girl-child whom the perpetrators claim to love,” he said, adding that the initiative by the student body, was a welcome development.

Student Representative Council president, Mr Thabang Kopelo said GBV cases were recorded in the school, hence the decision to hold the event to sensitise the students about its dangers.

He said one of the objectives of the event was to pay tribute to GBV victims and support those who were experiencing it, adding that victims needed psychological and mental support.  ENDS