08 Mar 2023

The church has been asked to play a pivotal role and be at the forefront in condemning gender-based violence.

The Assistant Minister of Local government and Rural Development, Ms Talita Monnakgotla said this during a workshop for faith-based organisations (FBO) in Gaborone on Monday.

Ms Monnakgotla said she believed FBOs voices were powerful because they had always provided support to families.

“FBOs are the torch bearers for humanity, bound by a common mission and vision of spirituality, health, prosperity, healing and well-being for all,” she said.

Ms Monnakgotla expressed hope that the workshop would accord churches the opportunity to introspect and reflect on factors around religion that might serve as a hindrance to equal participation by women and men in the development of the country.

Meanwhile, Gender Based Violence (GBV) activist, Ms Malebogo Molefhe, who was once shot eight times by an enraged boyfriend, encouraged the FBOs to preach the message and find out what role they could play in ending the scourge whose incidents happened almost every week without fail.

She said the lives of women, girls and boys were in danger and urged all to make sure they found ways of helping to end GBV.

Ms Molefhe also said Botswana was known for being a peaceful country, but nowadays it was no longer the case as reports had shown that it was leading in rape cases.

She also encouraged women to report GBV cases.

Representatives of various denominations encouraged one another to spread the messages through song. 

They also urged men to love and protect their partners and children. ENDs