Lifeline Botswana fights compulsive gambling

Established in 1999, Lifeline Botswana is a non-governmental organisation (NGO) and a regional representative of Lifeline Southern Africa and operates under Lifeline International. The NGO, whose vision is to see the people living happy, healthy and emotionally balanced lives, promotes behavioural change within society by way of training individuals to reduce their vulnerability to addiction, among other social ills.

The organisation, which influences spiritual rehabilitation, is worried that more and more people are becoming problem gamblers in Botswana. According to Lifeline Botswana director Vivian Gunda, between June last year and November this year, government issued a total of 11 licences for the opening of four casinos in Gaborone, two in Francistown and Selebi-Phikwe each and one each for Jwaneng, Lobatse, Palapye.