02 Feb 2025

Despite recent achievements in gender equality, Botswana continues to grapple with a troubling number of gender-based violence (GBV) cases, casting a shadow over the nation’s progress and making it an unsafe environment for women. 

During a keynote address at an engagement forum in Francistown on Friday, Minister of Youth and Gender Affairs, Ms Lesego Chombo, brought to light the pervasive fear experienced by many women who are victims or survivors of GBV. 

She emphasized that there is no justification for violence against anyone, as it fundamentally constitutes a violation of human rights.

“Violence is unacceptable, and we must work together as a society to address this issue,” Chombo asserted, urging community members to take a stand against GBV and support survivors.

“There is no excuse to justify gender inequality,” she said.

Ms Chombo noted that over 44 per cent of households were female-headed, underscoring women’s significant societal role, yet they remained economically disempowered, a challenge that also affected men.

She urged women to give men the space to critically examine their societal roles, advocating for a collaborative approach to address the issue.

While acknowledging Botswana’s considerable progress in women empowerment, gender equality, and health indicators (including the lowest infant and child mortality rates and highest life expectancy globally), Ms Chombo stressed the urgent need to tackle GBV.

She said the implementation of laws such as the Children’s Act and Domestic Violence Act, training of GBV responders, establishment of child-friendly centres in police stations and the incorporation of gender-sensitive budgeting as positive steps.

The ministry, she stated, planned to introduce preventative measures, including integrating gender equality and equity into the school curriculum.

Research indicated that perpetrators were often boys and men who themselves had experienced abuse, highlighting the need to provide boys with platforms to express their feelings.

Ms Chombo contrasted the ways in which violence manifested in women; often verbally and men; frequently physically, emphasising the ministry’s intention to cultivate a culture of respect from a young age to prevent future violence.

She said that government needed to capacitate people who delt with issues of gender-based violence because they needed the skills, knowledge, and resources to effectively support survivors, investigate cases thoroughly, and implement appropriate interventions to prevent future violence.

Ms Chombo said the ministry had launched an online suggestion box to encourage public input and the link of which could be found on the ministry website.

Speaking at the event, Inspector Margaret Mbe from the Botswana Police Service highlighted the inadequacy of a single child-friendly centre in the northern division, despite its vast size.

She noted that the centre’s location in Francistown alone was insufficient given the widespread occurrence of GBV and related issues.

Inspector Mbe reported a significant number of GBV cases, including murder, rape, defilement, and common assault.

Kgosi Gunny Moses of Phase V1, also observed a disturbing trend of GBV cases in Francistown.

He noted that drug sales, substance abuse, and alcohol consumption were now significant business concerns.

Kgosi Moses stated that women and girls were increasingly involved in substance use, particularly alcohol, often prioritising financial gain and contributing to a dependency syndrome.

He expressed a cultural disapproval of female-headed households, suggesting that this was contrary to Setswana traditions. ENDS