As figures of violence crime spiral year on year in Botswana with lives of children, women and men continuing to be lost at the hands of their so-called loved ones, Assistant Minister of State President, Maipelo Mophuting believes it is time government declares a State of Emergency on Gender Based Violence.
Mophuting shared this opinion on the sidelines of the trial for David Holland, a Briton charged with threatening to kill his wife and assault, heard at Francistown Magistrate Court last week Friday.
Quizzed about her attendance and interest in this criminal matter, Assistant Minister responded,” this is a well-documented case brought to my attention recently by you members of the media. I want to thank you for the good work that you continue to do. Cases of gender-based violence are not easy to follow or take up as journalists. Some of your lives have been endangered.”
She added, “my keen interest in this matter is one because I am an advocate against gender-based violence for the longest time; it is advocacy work that I have been doing and it is a passion area irrespective of the office I am occupying now. I will not set aside work which I have been doing for many years.”
She further said it would be a betrayal of what I stand for noting that GBV is a problem which the nation needs to tackle as a united force.
“I am with the school of thought and some civil society organisations calling for GBV to be declared a state of emergency. Because I believe this is where we are. Taking it to the highest decision-making office of the land. Once there as we deal with it with various stakeholders, a difference will be seen”, said Mophuting.
She added that collaboration with various stakeholders such as the Ministry of Justice and Correctional Service, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Youth and Gender, churches and Dikgosi is needed to tackle the pandemic.
“My being here is to send a message across to perpetrators that the Government of Umbrella for Democratic Change will not sleep on the job when it comes to GBV. This had been going on for many years and we cannot allow things to continue as they are”, emphasised the Assistant Minister.
In reference to Holland’s case, Mophuting highlighted,” it is concerning that our own child, a Motswana has had to flee the country because of a foreign national who has allegedly been terrorizing and beating her for many years.
“This is why I am here; I have a keen interest in this matter. As a government we have been saying on various platforms, that cases of GBV have taken an ugly and drastic turn. And we will not tolerate or let it be business as usual either.”
