25 Aug 2026

Parliament on Friday rejected a motion requesting government to strengthen Botswana’s commitment to gender equality and the protection of its citizens by establishing a Special Fund for Gender Based Violence. 

Presenting the motion to Parliament, MP for Tati East, Mr Tlhabologo Furniture said GBV was a pressing human rights and public health issue in Botswana. 

Rejecting the motion, Specially Elected MP and also Minister of Youth and Gender Affairs Ms Lesego Chombo said establishing a Special GBV Fund would be duplicative, given the integrated efforts and the government’s provision of financial resources for prevention, survivor support and legal redress. 

She said most current and planned GBV interventions stemmed from NDP12 passed by Parliament. Ms Chombo said government was addressing governance, legislative, policy institutional and financing aspects of Botswana’s response to GBV. 

She said the ministry supported legislation, policy and survivor services, noting that the Ministry of Health offered medical and mental health services, the Ministry of Justice and Correctional Services provided legal aid and rehabilitation programmes, while the Ministry of Local Government and Traditional Affairs delivered social welfare and community prevention initiatives. 

Ms Chombo also said the Botswana Police Service, funded through the Ministry for State President, Defence and Security, investigated GBV cases and protected victims. 

Furthermore, she said government was drafting GBV legislation aimed at prevention and support for victims, set for presentation in November. 

This legislation, she said sought to close systemic gaps and establish funding for psychosocial, health and legal services. These coordinated efforts, Minister Chombo said, ensured comprehensive prevention, protection, prosecution and survivor recovery. 

Gaborone South MP and also the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services Mr Nelson Ramaotwana also rejected the motion. Meanwhile, the MP for Mogoditshane West, Mr Galenawabo Lekau supported the motion, saying there should be political will for the policy to work. He said other countries in the region had such a fund, which allowed them to efficiently address cases. 

Responding to the legislators’ comments, Mr Furniture said GBV had no boundaries, and anyone could be a victim, urging that GBV needed resources if the fight againts it was to be won. ends