01 Sep 2025

Assistant Minister for State President, Ms Maipelo Mophuting, has called upon churches to continue their prayers and supplications for HIV/AIDS and other significant social issues impacting Botswana.

In an official launch of the 2025 Month of Prayer Against HIV/AIDS and Other Social Ills took place in Kanye on August 31, under the theme: By His Grace, Generation Now, Our Future Responsibility, End AIDS, she emphasised the important role that church-led prayers had played in Botswana’s resilience against HIV/AIDS.

During her speech, she underscored the essential contribution of churches to nation-building, insisting on the inseparability of church and state in this endeavour. She encouraged the church community to persist in prayers addressing additional challenges, such as non-communicable diseases, gender-based violence, alcohol and substance abuse, dysfunctional families, and traffic accidents.

Expressing gratitude towards the church for its steadfast prayers against HIV/AIDS over the past 29 years, Ms Mophuting noted that the initiative began during a period when the epidemic was rife, causing widespread suffering, family disintegration, and economic strain. She attributed the significant progress made in combating HIV/AIDS to the power of intercession.

In discussing non-communicable diseases, which were the leading causes of death in Botswana, Ms Mophuting advocated for healthier lifestyles, including proper nutrition, regular exercise, and smoking cessation. She also addressed the concerning rate of road accidents, particularly among youth, urging drivers to adhere to traffic regulations.

Moreover, she called for parental engagement in the fight against alcohol and substance abuse, emphasising that while government rehabilitation efforts were strengthening, support from churches and community organisations remained vital.

Mr Robert Selato, acting deputy national coordinator for the National AIDS and Health Promotions Agency (NAHPA), shared alarming statistics regarding HIV in Botswana, revealing a prevalence rate of 20.8 per cent, equating to roughly 300 029 individuals living with HIV, the bulk of whom were women. He noted that around 2 200 new infections occur annually.

Reverend Mpho Moruakgomo, chairperson of the National Organising Committee for the 2025 Month of Prayer Against HIV/AIDS, pointed out that men often avoided HIV testing, depending instead on their partner’s status. He urged the nation to seek comfort in faith and advocated for greater empowerment of the church by the government to more effectively tackle the HIV/AIDS crisis.

Kgosi Malope II of Bangwaketse, in his welcoming remarks highlighted gender-based violence as another pressing challenge for the nation and encouraged the church to adopt a proactive stance on the issue. ENDS