But as the conference concludes, Batswana must ask: Will this be another talk shop, or will it spark real change? The answer lies in whether every stakeholder, from the President to community leaders, transforms rhetoric into action.
The President rightly highlighted that crime, especially GBV, thrives in private spaces. His call to empower churches and counsellors as early warning systems is sensible. But good ideas mean little without funding and policy backing.
Therefore, the government must urgently allocate resources to train community counsellors, streamline reporting mechanisms for victims, and launch nationwide campaigns to destigmatise GBV.
Victims conceal abuse not just out of shame, but from fear of inadequate support. The President must ensure laws protect victims’ dignity and fast-track GBV cases in courts. Words matter, but budgets and bills matter the more. While the eight percent drop in crime is progress, Police Commissioner Dinah Marathe’s admission that statistical reductions are not enough is telling. Trust in the police remains fragile. Officers face trauma from gruesome crimes, which the President warned could desensitise them. Regular mental health support for police must be prioritised.
Furthermore, the police’s pledge to embrace new ways of policing must include tackling cybercrime through technological investment and specialist training. Community policing clusters have grown and now they need clearer mandates. Officers should engage communities not just in meetings but through school programmes and neighbourhood patrols. Visibility deters crime; secrecy fuels fear.
Crime prevention cannot be outsourced to law enforcement alone. Families, neighbours, and traditional leaders must shed complacency. GBV festers in silence; communities must break the culture of secrecy. Report suspicions, support victims, and challenge harmful norms.
Churches and NGOs should formalise partnerships with police, offering safe spaces for victims to come forward. Employers can aid by funding awareness programmes and flexible leave for staff seeking help. Crime is everyone’s business and apathy is complicity.
GBV’s rise demands urgent, tailored strategies. Schools must teach respect and equality early. Workplaces should adopt zero-tolerance policies. Communities could establish safety circles where trained volunteers identify and address risks discreetly. The President’s nod to privacy must not hinder intervention, laws should empower authorities to act on credible threats, even in domestic spaces. Conferences are useful, but Botswana needs action. The President must drive accountability through measurable targets, fewer GBV cases, faster court rulings, higher community engagement metrics. Batswana deserve safety, not slogans. Let this conference be remembered not for speeches, but for the lives it saved. The time for talk is over; the time for action is now.
‘I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.’ - Maya Angelou
