03 Dec 2024

The existing imbalance in efforts to empower men and women contributes to men feeling left behind as such efforts are often biased towards the latter.

Speaking during a Pitso Ya Borre meeting in Lobatse recently, chairperson of Men Sector in Lobatse, Mr Emmanuel Motsemme said there are a number of empowerment platforms for women leading to them forging forth and leaving their male counterparts behind.

Mr Motsemme said due to such imbalanced support, men complain of being left behind concerning platforms of expression, empowerment and being capacitated.

He said it is therefore important that platforms be availed for men to also be heard and get empowered to be able to help lead the coming generation and usher them to being great leaders themselves.

Mr Motsemme said amplifying the voice of men and giving them the opportunity to engage amongst themselves would spark conversations among them concerning issues that affect them.

District AIDS Coordinator for Lobatse, Mr Letlhogela Malebe said based on their conversations, men acknowledge their role as often the perpetrators of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and further attributed it to their psychological and masculine make-up.

Mr Malebe, however, said that such results of behavioural conduct might be due to poor social principles and values which he said have not equipped men with skills to not resort to physical means to resolve issues.

He however encouraged men to respect their God-given responsibility to lead and be responsible for all they are entrusted with by acting responsibly in everything that they do.

“Let us create role models whom our boy child could look up to and be inspired to emulate,” he said as he encouraged them to practise good conduct and adopt acceptable behaviour.

Mr Malebe said men’s discussions further highlighted that some of the challenges are within the available structures, citing Botswana Police as the most discouraging service provider to consider when challenged.

He said men shared that often, police officers look down at male victims the same way the society does and as such, it makes men shun seeking help from the police.

Mr Malebe said the viewpoint highlights the importance of capacitating stakeholder service providers to help them handle issues that affect men in a better way.

Mr Thabiso Rapulana, Ward Development Committee vice chairperson for Maokaneng ward in Lobatse said apart from GBV issues, men also shared amongst themselves that testing for HIV is a challenge for them as the positioning of testing points easily identifies them and the service they need to the public.

He said to address the problem, they suggested that testing be carried out during normal consultation sessions.

Mr Rapulana further said men expressed that they need events aimed at empowering them to be held often so that they may be empowered and capacitated.

He encouraged them to consider reaching to schools to capacitate and help position boys whilst young on how to respond positively to situations and generally lead responsible lives.

Mr Tebogo Kopang, a community volunteer and gender activist admitted that men experience abuse, which they react to by resorting to violence hence the increase in GBV cases.

Mr Kopang thus called out to men to come out and talk about the abuse they encounter, and encouraged them to also help other abused men.

He further said wherever a man finds himself, he should be ready to teach a boy child something positive.

He said men should show concern about the wellbeing of the boy child and should strive to help him grow into a positive role model  that can inspire other males. Ends