12 Nov 2013

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs, Mr Ikwatlhaeng Bagopi has called on men who are of marrying ages to get married and build the nation.

Mr Bagopi said though it was not smooth sailing in marriages, he said the institution should be considered as the starting point of nation building as it was improper to have a nation of bachelors and spinsters as that would not take this country anywhere.

Speaking at a media briefing on November 12 in Gaborone, on the eve of the International Men’s Day to be commemorated on November 19 at the Gaborone Senior Secondary School Grounds (GSS), he said the little number of people getting married attracted a lot of evil practices such as inter-generational sex which was becoming a serious problem to the country.

He said men and women were found having intimate relationships with people who were supposed to be their children and said the practice was a breeding ground for family break-ups and even the spread of diseases such as HIV/AIDS.

Mr Bagopi said men needed space where they could come together and share ideas on how they should handle themselves, how to behave in their families and also to learn how to properly raise children.

He said the International Men’s Day, whose theme is “Creating a safe environment for all: Men as role models” come at a time when only a handful of men have now realized the importance of joining organisations such as men sector and others.

The permanent secretary said during the International Men’s Day commemorations, men will be given the opportunity to discuss with the boy child the proper way of behaving as a man, and to also share with those who are not yet married, the importance of marriage.

Project Concern International (PCI) official, Ms Dorothy Tlagae, said their organisation is a nonprofit humanitarian NGO which is supported by the United States of America (USA) programme in Botswana to build the capacity of civil society organisations and other institutions to deliver HIV/AIDS prevention, care and support services.

She said PCI is dedicated to preventing disease, improving community health and promoting sustainable development and said all these can only be achieved through commemorations like the International Men’s Day as that will give all stakeholders an opportunity to come together and share ideas towards improving lives of men.Ends