11 May 2026

The Christian church as a corporate body, and the society at large should take a bold stance in the fight against gender-based violence (GBV), the Vice President and Minister of Finance, Mr Ndaba Gaolathe has said.

Giving the keynote address during a short workshop after being the chief walker in the UCCSA Trinity Congregational Church Anti-GBV Campaign Walk, Mr Gaolathe called on Christians and Batswana at large to be vocal in combating GBV.

“We are here because silence has become too expensive. Behind every statistic is a child, a mother, a sister, a neighbour, a citizen of this republic. GBV is not a private matter, it is a national wound and a threat to the Botswana we are trying to build,” Mr Gaolathe said.

He said there was a need to “walk from silence to responsibility, from sympathy to action, and from statistics to justice,” and charge the church to ensure that perpetrators were not protected and victims isolated.

“Breaking that silence requires courage, to name what is wrong, the willingness to intervene, and the conviction that abuse must never be normalised or excused,” Mr Gaolathe said.

He said rape and defilement statistics recorded by the Botswana Police Service remained high, with males largely being the perpetrators and females mostly the victims.

“Because many cases are never reported, official statistics may tell only part of the truth. Many survivors remain silent because they fear shame, retaliation, economic abandonment, or a system that may move slower than their pain,” Mr Gaolathe said.

He voiced the need to reduce the economic dependence of women and young people, and for better institutional response to GBV.

“Transformation begins in families, where values are formed and where children first learn dignity, responsibility and respect. It begins with men and boys. Do not wait to be accused before you become accountable. Confront violence even when it comes disguised as humour culture or authority. Masculinity must never be measured by control, fear or force,” the Vice President said.

The UCCSA Synod of Botswana Chairman and Trinity Church Resident Minister, Rev Kagiso Mphato said the core Christian belief is that God made humans in his image, and as such GBV was an affront on this godly nature.

He called on believers to rise against the scourge and ensure the church becomes a sanctuary and healing place for survivors.

Television and radio personality Mr Osi Lashani gave a personal testimony of his past experience as a GBV perpetrator, and the steps he took towards rehabilitation with the assistance of Men and Boys for Gender Equality group.

He encouraged abused women to leave toxic and abusive environments then seek professional help. He further called on for men to also leave relationships where they realise they were unwanted instead of forcing circumstances and ending up in a cycle of conducting GBV. ENDS