16 Feb 2025

The rising number of women turning to prostitution to ‘make ends meet’ in Diphetogo and Mosekangwetsi wards in Gaborone Bonnington South constituency is reported to be alarming.

The Chairperson of Diphetogo Ward Development Committee (WDC), Mr Mmopati Latlhang, raised the concern during a kgotla meeting addressed by Acting President and area Member of Parliament, Mr Ndaba Gaolathe on Thursday evening.

He said the Gaborone West shopping complex was at night transformed into a prostitute parade leading many rented apartments in the ward to be turned in to brothels, thus inflating residential house rental prices.

Mr Latlhang attributed the upsurge in prostitution in the area to increasingly challenging financial climate and high unemployment rates.

He pleaded with government to improve the living standards and create employment opportunities for Batswana as a means of reducing the social ills associated with poverty and unemployment.

“It is my humble plea to the new administration to commit to the socio-economic empowerment of all, particularly in highly populated townships like Gaborone West where poverty drives individuals to resort to illegal acts like prostitution,” he said.

Mindful of the Acting President’s role in the Executive arm of government, Mr Latlhang called on Mr Galaothe to also be cognizant of his role as an area MP and lure in investors to the constituency to create the much needed jobs.

He decried the prevalence of alcohol and illicit drug use among young people in the ward.

“It is heartening that young people have even gone to the extreme creating homemade concoctions just to get drunk and high,” he said.

He complained that young people who persistently abuse substances often experience an array of problems including academic difficulties, health-related problems (including mental health), poor peer relationships and involvement with the juvenile justice system.

Mr Latlhang said declining grades, absenteeism from school and other activities, and increased potential for dropping out of school were some of problems associated with adolescent substance abuse.

He expressed concern over the high rate of school indiscipline and vandalism across schools, adding that students’ indiscipline in many secondary schools posed a serious concern as they is an increase in unruliness acts like vandalism of school premises.

He noted that lack of streetlights in Diphetogo has turned the place into a save heaven for criminals, therefore implored the Gaborone City Council to act accordingly in maintaining them.

With regard to health facilities, Mr Latlhang called on the Ministry of Health to upgrade the Gaborone West clinic to a 24 hour service provider, adding that excessing health facilities in Block 9 Julia Molefe clinic was a challenge. ENDS