04 May 2025

Women have been encouraged to pursue financial independence to reduce reliance on their partners.

The call was made by Absa business development and stakeholder manager, Ms Lesley Bradley during a walk against gender-based violence (GBV) in Moshupa recently. Ms Bradley emphasised that financially independence women were less likely to remain in abusive relationships. She pointed that in today’s challenging times of high unemployment, women must be empowered to generate their own income, thus reducing dependence on their partners. 

She called on men to be considerate when thinking of raising a hand against women, saying that they should consider how their mothers and sisters would feel if they were to be beaten. She described GBV as a brutal violation of human rights which had cast a shadow over homes, communities and the whole nation.

“GBV is a crime that leaves both visible and invisible scars that rob the victim of dignity, shatters lives and weakens the society,” she said, adding that it was not affecting victims or perpetrators only, but left children orphaned, parents childless and the community grieving unfulfilled potentials.

Ms Bradley said global statistics were not at a good standing as one in three women globally had experienced physical or sexual violence. She shared that in 2023, 51 100 women and girls were killed by their intimate partners and family members, 140 of whom were killed in the same day.

She said six per cent of women and girls aged 15 to 45 had experienced sexual violence by someone other than their partners, while over 67 per cent of women had experienced some form of abuse.

Earlier in his welcome remarks, Moshupa deputy chief Kgosi Mothusinyana Mochankana said Bogosi was also concerned about rising incidents of gender-based violence in Moshupa and Botswana at large. He said a week hardly passed without women reporting GBV, while on the other hand not a single male had ever come to report.

However, Kgosi Mochankana revealed that gender-based violence was diverse and even affected men. He cited that married couple’s GBV issues were hidden such that men would rather withdraw and resort to residing at the cattle posts.

Kgosi Mochankana called on women and girls to desist from demanding money from their male counterparts, saying such habits contributed to the alarming rate of GBV cases. He further urged all to collectively seek solace against all trials and tribulations from God. ENDS