The bill is meant to protect people - mainly children and women - who are abused and battered in the family set-up. The male legislators have welcomed the bill after it was explained to them that domestic violence does not affect women only but everyone who is abused in the family. When debating the bill on Friday, male MPs condemned domestic violence in very strong terms. When he was contributing to the bill, the MP for Shoshong, Duke Lefhoko, described domestic violence as a malady. "How do you love somebody and batter them? How do you love somebody and torture them emotionally?" he asked. He asserted that emotional abuse is very traumatising.
Lefhoko said bogadi (bride price) can be misconstrued by some husbands to mean that they have purchased the woman. He said there is nothing inherently wrong with the practice except for those who misunderstand or misuse it. Lefhoko said although the proposed law against domestic violence is an important tool, it is not sufficient to fight the vice. "We need to change the mindset," he said. He proposed that advocacy groups should spread the message against domestic violence in the country side to raise awareness.
