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Kgosi Malope II calls for collective effort against GBV

Kgosi Malope PIC: KENNEDY RAMOKONE
Kgosi Malope PIC: KENNEDY RAMOKONE

Kgosi Malope II, the chairperson of the fifth Ntlo Ya Dikgosi (NYD), has emphasised that for Botswana to address the issues of Gender-Based Violence (GBV), it should not be left to leaders and experts only.

Speaking during the second meeting of the fifth NYD yesterday, Malope noted concern about the high numbers of GBV cases recorded over the festive holidays.

“As members of the NYD we are concerned about the ever-increasing issues of GBV affecting our communities as we are reliably informed that police recorded 60 cases of rape, 19 murder, and 13 defilement cases,” Malope said.

Malope highlighted that the GBV issue needs a collective effort in all sectors of society.

“With the situation at hand, we need a multisectoral holistic approach that can be used to address this social ill. I plead with potential partners to collaborate with NYD to develop meaningful and lasting solutions on this emerging issue,” he said.

The Bangwaketse chief further challenged parents to nip such issues in the bud starting from their homes before leaders and experts can assist.

“Ke tsaya sebaka se go bua le bagarona gore le rona kwa malwapeng, a re bueng thata ka kgang ya kgokgontsho, re leke ka thata. Ke dumela gore ga se kgang ya baitseanape le bogogi (loosely translated, Malope holds that this holistic approach might be the solution to the GBV issues as at the end of the day victims and perpetrators are within our midst),” Malope said. “Go bolaana bana ba rona kwa malwapeng, baagisanyi ba rona, ditsala tsa rona le ba re gaufi le bone. A re epe modi wa bothata jo re o kumule mo sechabeng (loosely translated, the chairman further highlighted that people should forego beliefs that culture is at play in the escalating issues of GBV as over the years culture is shifting due to digital transformation),” he said.

“The narrative that GBV is a result of patriarchal society and culture may not be adequate and to an extent biased and risks imputing improper by tainting our culture as bad. As they say, culture is dynamic and evolving,” Malope said.

Malope added that the fifth term of NYD will also address climate change issues and revamp NYD, amongst others.

The members are currently on an orientation programme expected to last a week.
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