A rape victim narrates her ordeal

We can never begin to understand how a rape victim feels. Long after the rape, the victim continues to live with the horror of the events of the day she was raped. Worse, some victims contract HIV or hepatitis or some sexually transmitted disease. GREG KELEBONYE spoke to Tsaone*, a rape victim who met her ordeal in 2007, then 26 years of age. Tsaone's story tells us that victims can pull through with support, and that they do not have to commit suicide.

"I came to Gaborone to look for a job leaving my parents who were working as teachers in Francistown. I came to stay with my grandparents'. My grandparents have since passed on, but each of their children -my mother's siblings, including her, have a house of their own in the yard - it's a big yard, just so that when things don't work out wherever they are, they can always have a place to sleep. So I occupied my mother's house, a little away, not too far though from the main house." That decision would forever change Tsaone's life.

Having grown up in the home where she now stayed after a four-year absence, she knew just about everyone of her neighbours. She also knew - or believed, that she was safe at home. Indeed she had heard on one or two occasions about some petty robberies where a cellphone or a handbag was snatched from someone in the neighbourhood. A few break-ins had also been reported....but, never anything like what was about to happen to her on that fateful night.

Editor's Comment
Congratulations Anicia Gaothuse!

The contest had 10 beautiful young girls as finalists and unfortunately only one could wear the crown.The judges picked Anicia Gaothuse. To all those who feel their contestant should have won ahead of Anicia for whatever reason, hardly; the judges found Anicia to be the best among the best, so desist from disrespecting our newly crowned queen on social media or anywhere else, for that matter! Each of the 10 beautiful young women had supporters...

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