27 Nov 2013

A sergeant with the Botswana Police Service, Ms Patricia Kapetira has raised concern about some women who withdraw rape and domestic violence cases.

She said withdrawing such cases could have serious consequences for the affected women, their communities and society at large. “Rape is a serious crime with a serious sentence and the minimum punishment for a rape is 10 years in prison or 15 if the perpetrator has infected you with HIV”.

Sergeant Kapetira made the comments during a discussion to share ideas on how the community and different stakeholders could fight domestic based violence. She said by dropping charges, victims were interfering with justice.

“By taking your matter to court you are sending a message to the perpetrator and society that rape is not acceptable,” she said and advised women to make informed decisions.

She said rape cases in Maun were worrisome as the police recorded up to three cases a day. Sadly, many of the cases were discontinued because the victims wanted them withdrawn. She said most of the rape incidents took place at drinking sprees and young women were mostly affected.

“We have realised that many rape survivors do not report rape cases because they feel that the rape has taken away all of their power,” she added

Sergeant Kapetira said some rape victims were embarrassed about what happened to them and were afraid to come forward. However she encouraged people to report incidents adding that there were laws that protect their privacy.

She noted Maun police had a separate room for such cases. She appreciated that some victims were working hand in hand with Women Against Rape (WAR) organisation whose strategies are geared at addressing the social issues that contribute to abuse of women and children through offering psychosocial counseling, safe shelter, public education, advocacy and lobbying as well as skills empowerment.

Sergeant Kapetira also indicated that police had recorded a high number of defilement cases. She said some parents took long to report such incidents and only reported when the perpetrator failed to provide for the child born out of the defilement.

Kgosi Judith Sedumedi of Sedie ward observed that orphans were mostly affected in terms of gender violence noting that some relatives exploited them to get clothing and food baskets from government.

She called on relevant authorities to urgently address such challenges. Some uncles, she said, volunteered to look after the children only to sexually and emotionally abuse them.

Kgosi Sedumedi also noted that some children headed families as their parents worked at safari camps. Such children were easy prey for sex perverts who could be neighbours. She argued that the role of community leaders should be expanded to provide assistance and guidance, while society played its watchdog role. ENDS