�Women should wear female condoms all the time�

Boniface Keakabetse | Thursday September 22, 2016 11:07

Mhapha’s comments were made on Monday, as councillors responded to Ngamiland district commissioner (DC), Chabongwa Matseka’s report indicating that the district had an alarming rate of HIV infection.Mhapha said he believed there was a correlation between the prevalence of HIV/AIDS and rising rape cases in Maun.“The female condom can help women avoid contracting HIV if worn at all times.  “I am also suspicious that rape prevalence in Maun maybe under reported and current official statistics are just the tip of the iceberg.

“It is likely that many people are having sex without consent and this may be responsible for rising cases of HIV infections,” he said.

Mhapha also challenged health authorities to make female condoms freely available like their male varieties, saying this would empower women and prevent them from contracting HIV. The councillor further called for research to determine the factors behind the rising HIV prevalence and rapes in the village.  

Mhapha’s utterances, however, did not go unchallenged and visibly angered female members of the council.Nominated councillor, Grace Moleta said Mhapha’s utterances were disrespectful to women.

“Public education is the only way to stop rape. Saying women should always put on female condoms is tantamount to endorsing rape.

“We should unite to denounce rape. We are all affected by rape,” she said.

According to the DC, 2,168 residents were tested for HIV in the district between April and June 2016, with 218 testing positive. Matseka lamented the low numbers of men coming to test for the disease.

During the same period, 20 deaths associated with HIV/AIDS were recorded, compared to 34 in the previous quarter. At least 22,815 people are on Highly Active-Retroviral Therapy in the district, compared to 22,407 in the previous quarter.

Between April and June, 31 rape cases were reported, continuing a rising trend seen in the previous quarters.