17 Jun 2025

Faith-based organisations are proving to be pivotal in the fight against social ills, particularly gender-based violence (GBV), as highlighted during the recent national week of prayer held in Gumare.

The event, held on Monday, featured Gumare Senior Magistrate Ms Vinga Kedikilwe-Johnson as the guest speaker. 

She emphasised the importance of collaborative efforts between the government and faith-based communities in addressing the alarming rise in GBV cases within the Okavango District.

Ms Kedikilwe-Johnson noted that the district has seen an increase in defilement and rape cases, with many proceedings taking place at Gumare and Shakawe Magistrate Courts. 

She pointed out that women and girls were the most vulnerable to GBV, partly due to cultural practices and societal vulnerabilities, which often enable heinous acts committed predominantly by men.

“GBV is totally wrong, it is a human rights violation,” she stated firmly. 

She urged residents to report incidents of violence to authorities or trusted community leaders.

In his sermon during the event, Pastor Johnson Gakelona emphasized the divine origin of human life, urging respect and love for one another. 

“God created people to display His glory. Therefore, we should respect human life and oppose violence, including killing,” he said. 

Pastor Gakelona highlighted the importance of unity in prayer, asserting that a collective approach can bring divine intervention.

Reverend Samuel Kenaape, Okavango District AIDS Coordinator, reaffirmed the government’s recognition of religion’s vital role in societal development. “There is freedom for religious groups to come together and pray against GBV,” he said.

 Reverend Kenaape also stressed the importance of nurturing children in environments that instill respect and equality, thereby preventing the perpetuation of violence in adulthood.

Adding to the discussion, Gumare Senior Gender Officer Mr. Budani Madandume revealed concerning statistics, noting that Botswana is among the countries with the highest rape cases globally. 

He underlined the national week of prayer’s objective to recognize the significant role churches can play in combating social issues, describing churches as beacons of hope for the hopeless. ENDS