Mmegi

Crime in 100 days: Legal loopholes persist

GBV has become a daily concern for a country believed to be a peace-loving nation
GBV has become a daily concern for a country believed to be a peace-loving nation

In the new government’s first 100 days, the long-simmering menace of Gender Based Violence (GBV) boiled over and exposed well-known legal loopholes. As such, Batswana are demanding more from the new administration beyond talk, writes Mmegi Staffer PINI BOTHOKO

GBV has become a daily concern for a country believed to be a peace-loving nation with a strong cultural value of Botho. Over the past festive season, police recorded 298 reported offences against persons, with 181 of them being GBV-linked crimes. That is 60.7% of total reported crimes being gender-based.

About 93 women were raped between December 19, 2024 and January 5, 2025 according to official data shared by the Botswana Police Service (BPS), meaning that for a population of about 2.3 million people, close to 100 women were raped in a short period of two weeks. And that only includes reported cases.

Editor's Comment
Botswana must not be a flag of convenience for rogues

‘A man’s country is not a certain area of land, of mountains, rivers, and woods, but it is a principle and patriotism is loyalty to that principle’.- George William CurtisAccording to the report carried in this publication, the fraudsters operating the so-called “dark fleet” have selected Botswana’s flag as their cover of choice. This is a direct assault on our country’s most valuable asset, the good name.For decades, Botswana has...

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