24 Sep 2024

The law prohibits the use of cell phones within the Botswana Gender Based Violence (GBV) Prevention and Support centres to prevent potential contact between victims and their abusers.

Speaking at a GBV workshop in Tonota recently, Constable Elizabeth Modisapodi of Tonota Police Station explained that the decision was taken after the realisation that in some cases where the victim and the abuser continued to communicate, some perpetrators were able to follow the victims to the shelters to further abuse them.

Constable Modisapodi said although the police understood that such an arrangement may lead to an inconvenience, the primary concern was the safety and wellbeing of the victims.

She highlighted instances where victims of GBV had their safety jeopardised because they had revealed their location to their abusers through the cell phone. Constable Modisapodi explained that the police had also taken a decision to transport victims of GBV under the cloak of darkness so that their destination was shrouded in secrecy.  The rationale, according to Constable Modisapodi, is to protect the victim, to prevent them from being tracked or identified by perpetrators.

 Meanwhile, Constable Modisapodi told the workshop that Tonota West was experiencing an increase in the number of child abuse and GBV cases.

 Tonota District Council principal social welfare officer, Ms Balebemang Molebi said GBV was evident across all sectors of society.

She said perpetrators were mostly men.  She cited the Tatisiding case of a father who killed three of his own children.

The other cases, she cited were a Chadibe woman who killed her boyfriend, and Jamataka man who killed his partner leaving behind four children, the youngest aged three months old.  She explained that Tonota District Council was currently facing an increase in the number of sexual abuse cases.

Ms Molebi said statistics indicated that the war against GBV was far from over. 

She said although the war could not be won overnight, everyone must be a watchdog and take action against violence promptly.

She said everyone should report any suspected cases of GBV by alerting relevant authorities.

Community health nurse under Greater Francistown District Health Management Team, Ms Golebaone Makolo urged parents to take an active role in child upbringing, ensuring a brighter future of their children. Ms Makolo said parents should instil values, foster empathy, and nurture resilience.

 She said active participation was fundamental to laying a sturdy foundation for a successful future.

The workshop was held amidst concerns about the impact of modern day distractions on familial relationships and child development. The two-day workshop brought together women associations from the villages that make up the Tonota District.  Ends