Botswana Police Services (BPS) has, during the past 2 years recorded 545 women who were raped, while 451 girls were sexually violated, with 35 women murdered by their intimate partners in Francistown and surrounding villages which makes up Number and 1 and 15 districts of the northern division.
These high figures which depict a gloom, gruesome, grotuesque picture of gender-based violence were disclosed last Friday by Inspector Margaret Mbe during the Ministry of Youth and Gender Affairs, stakeholders meeting in Francistown.
Inspector Mbe said the escalating statistics indicate that women and girls continue to bear the brunt of Gender Based Violence (GBV) in the Botswana.
“The highest number cases recorded in all the quarters and years is rape followed by defilement, then assault occasioning and threat to kill. In most of these GBV incidents children are caught in the crossfire of violent fights and misunderstandings, most of which involve married and cohabiting partners.”
Mbe said figures of GBV cases were collecting from major police stations in Francistown and surrounding villages which form part of Greater Francistown.
“GBV murders doubled last year and we also recorded two cases are of biological fathers killing their children. Cases of assault causing bodily harm in 2023 stood at 157, while in 2024 were 167 cases registered. Another criminal case which is of great concern is defilement of children. In 2023 alone 228 girls were sexually assaulted and last year 223 cases of defilement were registered,” highlighted Inspector Mbe.
She said the highest numbers of defilement cases in 2023 were recorded during the months of August, September and December. While in 2024 more cases were recorded in January, September and November. Inspector Mbe attributed these spikes in defilement, to children being sexually violated during school holidays and when their parents are absent or not under the watchful eye of parents and guardians.
The Northern Division also recorded alarming figures of thereat to kill cases in the years of 2023 and 2024.
“Last year there was an increase of 17 cases of threat to kill, compared to 2023 where 130 cases were reported to the police.”
