Molepolole walk against GBV
1037 GBV cases recorded in Molepolole area between now and 2018 Two murders within five days, 82 threat-to-kill cases since January in Moleps Survivor uses her own experiences to inspire
Scores of concerned individuals flocked Molepolole this past Saturday to join an anti gender based violence walk organised by Sunshine Africa in collaboration with the Malebogo-Max Foundation and the Ministry of Nationality, Immigration and Gender Affairs.
The walk, held on the backdrop of escalating cases of Gender based violence and crimes of passion across the country, was held under the theme: ‘Borre tsayang taolo.’
One of the key organisers of the walk, gender based violence and disability rights activist, Malebogo Max Molefhe, said the upsurge of violent cases had prompted them to intensify campaigns through partnerships with various stakeholders to educate and sensitise men and boys against GBV.
She said the intention of the walk was to create a platform for dialogue and conversation on GBV and highlight the ugliness of its impact on community members and the economy.
She said as the pepetrators, men must be inspired to be better role models and to act responsibly, and also be responsive in driving these issues in communities.
Molefhe said it was high time Batswana introspect and heal, to avoid all these senseless killings.
“Challenges are there for us to learn from and grow, but not to exert force and take lives. Let us use these messages to introspect; let it be a lesson that continues to raise hope in our lives. Please let us take the right step in ensuring that we don’t allow our emotions to control us; change starts from within.”
Molepolole appears to be the hot bed for couple related GBV and crimes of passion, with two women murdered by their lovers within five days recently, and many other couple related murders having come from the village in the past months. Molepolole Station Commander Superintendent Motlhaba Ramaabya recently expressed concern over the high rate of murders, also sharing that since January 2020 they have recorded 82 cases of threat-to-kill most of which involve couples. Ramaabya said the figures are alarming, emphasising that there is need for strong support networks for people to seek counselling and therapy regarding their personal issues, instead of resorting to murder.
According to Office Commanding Police District 11 (Molepolole area), of the 1037 cases of GBV recorded in the Molepolole area between 2018 and October 2020, only 20 were committed by perpetrators unknown to the victims, while the rest were committed by relatives, partners and ex-lovers, which confirmed that most GBV cases are carried out by people close to the victims.
Molefhe said through their interactions with area leaders, they had established that the community of Molepolole is riddled and tormented by these outrageous passion killings which stem
largely from miscommunication among individuals in intimate relationships.
“Partners, or lovers, don’t communicate effectively, they base decisions on assumptions and accusations that they are being cheated on, wronged or betrayed, and so forth.
“Jealousy between couples is also the major contributor of violence. More damning is the fact that young boys are out for a kill without understanding the devastating consequences of their actions. “This is all disturbing and as women we are losing our lives and our children are left in a lurch.”
As one of the key speakers at the walk, Vice President Slumber Tsogwane reiterated that the murders are disheartening. He emphasised that men should be protectors not perpetrators.
He called for behavioural change and urged community members to speak out on GBV, adding that children, particularly boy children, should be taught healthy manners of interaction with women and girls, from a young age.
His views were echoed by area MP and Minister for Presidential Affairs, Governance and Public Administration, Kabo Morwaeng, who also said that perpetrators of GBV should be exposed and shunned publicly. Molefhe herself is a GBV survivor having gone through the horrendous experience of being shot in a hail of bullets by an enraged former lover who fled the scene, leaving her for dead.
Although she is wheelchair-bound, it is a glorious miracle that she survived. She is grateful for the gift of life and a second chance because she knows that many other victims don’t live to tell the tale. She encourages women to be more cautions and invest in their personal development and self-care. “As a GBV survivor, I look beyond self to reach out to women in our communities to educate them about the importance of self-preservation, self-care and respect for self and others.
“I want women and girls to be vigilant and notice the red flags in relationships, for example, if someone becomes aggressive and beats you, make the decision to leave. I say, get out while you still can.
“Also report violence as and when it happens so that the law can take its course. I want women and girls to see me as an example; to change their circumstances and be saved from potential harm,” she says.