Alcoholism worries Charleshill headman
Leinanyana Tsiane | Thursday March 27, 2014 12:14
Pitwane said in an interview this week that alcoholism in Charleshill is shocking, saying that children as young as those in primary schools imbibed all types of alcoholic beverages ranging from sekhokho, mokoko o nchebile and khadi.
He said the village’s proximity to the Namibian border, makes it easy for children to travel to the neighbouring country to buy alcohol when local bars close at night.
“I applaud the government for allowing Batswana to make a living by brewing and selling traditional beer. But when school children start drinking alcohol then it becomes something else. The village leaders, however, are working with by-law officers to arrest this situation,” said Pitwane.
Not only is the village grappling with an alcohol problem, but Pitwane also complained about the long distance trucks that pick up young girls. He said the girls have resorted to prostitution.
He added that the girls are more interested in material things, especially money and will do anything to have it.
He added that gender-based violence (GBV) exists in the village and it is perpetrated by abuse of alcohol.
He said that alcohol has brought about lawlessness in the village and that the youth are disrespectful to adults. This has also prompted an increase in cases of assault, rape and defilement, he said.
On issues of other crimes, Pitwane said they still have a problem with stock theft which is perpetrated by youth.
They sometimes fake letters from their parents saying they want to sell their cattle, he said.
“We have had cases where these young people bring fake letters claiming to be from their parents authorising them to sell cattle. It’s a problem we are having here,” said Pitwane.
He added that unemployment is high in the village and that they have urged the youth to join Ipelegeng. He said they should look for jobs in shops as there are not many places to absorb the many youths roaming in the village.
Pitwane added that the Trans-Kalahari Highway had its own share of problems as it has brought more fatherless children and broken homes, while it was meant to create employment.
“When the new lodge, Ekori opened, I personally went to the management and requested them to at least employ one or two youths and they agreed. Right now they have employed four youths and it’s a commendable thing,” he said.