Africa-Press – Botswana. Mahalapye Central Police Station acting station commander, Superintendent Onalenna Moatlhodi has urged the community to collaborate with law enforcement officers to fight gender-based violence(GBV) and drug abuse.
Speaking during a workshop in Mahalapye recently, Supt Moatlhodi said 209 cases of defilement, 402 rape cases and 35 cases of abusing children were recorded in Mahalapye between 2022 and 2024.
The police also registered 721 cases of murder, threat to kill and arson as well as 73 cases of drug abuse.
Supt Moatlhodi emphasised the importance of such workshops, noting that they raised awareness and knowledge among members of the public.
“It is mandatory to inform the nation of matters as important as gender-based violence and drug abuse because they affect our nation and our aim is to form meaningful relationships with communities so we get rid of such,” he said.
Mr Bernard Lombala, Mokubatse Primary School head said it was important for young learners to be included in such workshops to give them an opportunity to learn about the dangers of drug use.
“When young learners are exposed to drugs it increases failure rates and the way we do things at home also has an input and that is where GBV starts,” he said.
Mr Lombala shared that drugs changed learners’ behaviour as they caused aggressive behaviour, changing temperaments, hence he emphasised that parents and teachers should always keep an eye on children to ensure they were on the right track.
Moreover, he said learners on drugs tended to be hyperactive which affected other pupils.
Mental Health nurse from Mahalapye Hospital Ms Gabaitsane Lotlaamoreng said victims of gender based violence go through stress as the first factor that leads to other problems like depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, bipolar disorders and many more.
Urging the youth to desist from drugs, she said many drug abusers did not just spring up from the blue but started with experimentation thus urging the youth to avoid such.
Inspector Chookhwa Mangope of Mahalapye West Police station said the fight against gender-based violence required active participation from all stakeholders thus encouraging everyone to report such cases without fail so as to nip the monster in the bud.
“We at Botswana Police Service believe the youth can change and we have a child friendly policy which we use when attending to cases pertaining to either victims or those seeking rehabilitation,” she said.
The workshop was themed: Say NO to GBV & Drug Abuse.
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