16th June 2025
Kutlo Motseta
The Ministry of Youth and Gender Affairs hosted a Gender Based Violence (GBV) campaign as part of the national week of prayer at Avani Hotel in Gaborone.
The Minister, Lesego Chombo, delivered the keynote address, concluding with an ominous warning that: “After a I step off this stage it could be me.”
At about the time she was speaking about the scourge of gender based violence an employee at the University of Botswana(UB) would meet her end in a gruesome and bloody fashion – 500m down the road – as she stabbed to death by her lover who was out on bail on charges pertaining to complaints by the deceased around issues of physical abuse.
On the basis of her interactions with local communities, the former Ms Botswana said it’s important to tackle GBV by focusing on cultural definitions, such as the meaning of manhood and its implications on gender relations.
She said this necessitates consultation with local Chiefs to spearhead the challenge against GBV.
“When a chief talks we listen at all levels and capacities. I want to make it clear on the power that dikgosi (chiefs) have … they truly believe in your guidance to shape values to shape community and standards,” said Chombo.
GBV is ostensibly an issue which is very close to the Chairman of the House of Chiefs, Kgosi Malope II.
“We as a house have not escaped the scourge of GBV, we lost a colleague Thelma Oageng, who was 32 years old … she was working as a principal accountant in the House of Chiefs … as an office we asked ourselves what could have we done … The rise in violence against women and children is alarming and must come to an end,” said Malope.
Kgosi Seboko of Ramotswa acknowledged the relevance of chiefs in influencing communities.
“Dikgosi (chiefs) are gatekeepers, because at every village there is a gate. God placed dikgosi and he placed us as gatekeepers,” said Seboko.
The Minster hinted that the Ministry may open a police unit at the Ministry because of the high number of GBV cases which has resulted in regular communication between the two offices.
