29 Aug 2023

Social worker, radio personality and television presenter, Ms Lesego Bile says men should introspect and understand their emotional wellness in order for them to make informed decisions.

She said this at a one day conference themed Man Speak Out in Gaborone on Saturday.

She said if men particularly those who are abusive  could learn how to handle their emotions, there would be few cases of femicides, suicides and GBV. 

“I believe that if we can connect with all men, they will come on board and assist this organisation to spread the message,” she said.

Some women, she said, demanded money from men thus putting men under pressure.

Ms Bile said Man Speak Out Organization called on men to introspect and change mindset.

She said the organisation was established to fight GBV.

Further she said, the organisation planned to hold  another conference, November this year during the men’s month.

“Man Speak Out conference will be an event that focuses on issues that generally affected men. On our panel we will have pre and post marital counsellors, motivational speakers, GBV activist and mental health awareness activist,” she said.

She said he was committed to raising awareness on male related discussions, focusing on issues that that the community could relate with. 

Further as a social worker, she generally she has been part of programmes and shows that were related to relationships, depression/ anxiety and building people in general with personal development.

Former President of Botswana Counseling’s Association, Mr Tshepo Shosho, said  the conference objective was to highlight issues  that affected men but were not reported. 

He said it was important that men should tell their own stories , hence the need of this conference.

“Through this conference, we have learnt and understood and appreciated that most men go through a lot.  

He urged the public not to generalised men as abusers , instead he said, “we should appreciate where they coming from.” Meanwhile Ms Shelly Apes, Motivational Speaker, GBV activist, author and mental health activist also said that the conference would enable and empower men to speak out in every situations that they found  themselves in. 

“Botswana needs men who can speak out when they need help,”  she said. She explained that abuse, whether physical or emotional that could result in victims not to question who they were, causing other person to stop believing in what they have been desiring to be and anything that brought negativity causing pain to ones nature as a human being.  ENDs