Mmegi

The child mothers of Tsodilo

World famous: A not so well-known community lives a few kilometres from the Hills and is wracked by poverty, unemployment and child pregnancies ADOBE STOCK
World famous: A not so well-known community lives a few kilometres from the Hills and is wracked by poverty, unemployment and child pregnancies ADOBE STOCK

During a recent visit to Tsodilo, NNASARETHA KGAMANYANE saw girls as young as 15 years carrying their babies on their backs. A lack of income, jobs and other opportunities has led to the harrowing phenomenon amongst the San communities in different parts of Botswana

Having had no privilege to visit Tsodilo village where the famous Tsodilo Hills lie, I only knew a few things about the World Heritage Site, but little about the community.

Basarwa and Baherero tribes reside in the village, situated a stone’s throw away from the Hills. With one of the highest concentrations of rock art in the world, an estimated 4,500 in an area of only 10 kilometres in the Kalahari Desert, Tsodilo has been called the ‘’Louvre of the Desert’’.

Editor's Comment
Depression is real; let's take care of our mental health

It is not uncommon in this part of the world for parents to actually punish their children when they show signs of depression associating it with issues of indiscipline, and as a result, the poor child will be lashed or given some kind of punishment. We have had many suicide cases in the country and sadly some of the cases included children and young adults. We need to start looking into issues of mental health with the seriousness it...

Have a Story? Send Us a tip
arrow up