Kutlo Motseta
11th November 2025
The Ministry of Youth and Gender (MYGA) has begun collaborative efforts with the media and the public to draft new law legislation to address the national scourge of gender-based violence (GBV).
“Legislation will be drafted to address deeply concerning issue of gender base violence. We approached government to draft comprehensive, survival centred legislation, to address growing incidents and severity of gender-based violence in Botswana,” said Bridget John, Permanent Secretary of the MYGA.
She said, “We realise over time that we are not winning the war. We need to be able to respond against GBV, both from a preventative and responsive perspectives …. We are working with police to create a one stop centre to ease GBV … which will have therapy and shelter for victims. Our biggest challenge is how to stop GBV from happening.”
Ms. John stressed GBV cuts across many spheres and noted its unrecognised forms.
“Many get the impression that it’s about men battering women, but it’s also about physical emotional, verbal, psychological and economic damage. There is a lot of GBV in the workplace. When it happens there is nowhere to go to and unfortunately victims stand to lose their jobs. GBV affects men also, though it mainly affects women. Women can say hurtful things that cause psychological damage. Minister Hon. Ms. Lesego Chombo has noted that mental is deteriorating in the country.”
Ms. John also commented on the impact of the media in addressing GBV.
“We are talking to the media because we respect your role in educating, sensitising and your investigative journalism [skills]. We count on the media to educate, respond and to create awareness. GBV not only affects individuals, but also affects the economy. If a person is affected, they cannot perform well at work … GBV happens everywhere … not only at home but also at work, at church, at the courts … Let’s build peace starting at family level.”
MYGA’s inhouse legal advisor, Chief State Counsel Goitseone Lesiela spoke about the further importance of developing a new legislation.
“The Domestic Violence Act limited in scope. We can’t apply for protection for violence in the workplace. The purpose is to expand to areas where we can’t be covered … there is also the issue of definitions (what constitutes GBV). We propose to cover all forms of gender-based violence including harassment and political violence … There will be parts that deals with data and monitoring. We will have areas where we dela with protection measures rights of victims and psychological support.”
Ms John noted the victimisation that men also face recounting her visit to the Molepolole prison.
“Some issues were painful. They (inmates) were saying that some women can be opportunistic and want money after sex. If he says he doesn’t have money they claim rape. Our whole system is skewed towards women. Some men said they were imprisoned because they were wrongly accused, thereafter they committed the offence after the false accusation (‘double jeopardy/’autre foit covict’). When we make law, we must sure that there is balance. All things must be considered.”
There was input from the media, including concerns about cyber abuse, the need to include victims in the consultative process and establishing a separate GBV court to ease the judicial caseload. The media will have further engagements with the ministry before the bill is drafted.
The Ministry hopes to make the proposed GBV legislation law by July 2026.
The public can make suggestions and make submissions to the ministry until the 21st November 2025 before it begins its first phase of writing the bill at emotshubi@gov.bw
The proposed bill comes at a time when many disturbing incidents continue to shake the nation including the recent conviction of Molepolole Pastor Goitsekgosi Mojadigo who was found guilty of raping and defiling some of his congregants.
He is due for sentencing on Friday.
