Africa-Press – Botswana. University of Botswana Vice Chancellor, Professor David Norris, has called for collective action to restore the country’s cherished peace amid growing social challenges.
Delivering welcome remarks at a two-day Peace Conference and Festival , Professor Norris noted that Botswana is grappling with rising gender-based violence, increasing divorce rates, and the proliferation of illicit drugs, issues that are deeply affecting families, communities, and the nation at large.
He said the troubling realities of child-headed households, high unemployment, and the rising incidence of white-collar crime, corruption, and organised criminal activity serve as reminders that peace is more than the absence of conflict; it is the presence of justice, compassion, and shared responsibility.
Emphasising the conference theme: Let Us Heal; We Owe It to Ourselves, Professor Norris described it as a rallying call for self-reflection and unified effort.
He said the gathering offers an invaluable platform for learning, dialogue, and reflection on fostering peace within relationships, institutions, and the broader national fabric.
Expressing concern, he noted that Botswana’s long-held pride as a peaceful and vibrant nation appears to be fading, citing recent incidents of violence and social unrest as troubling signs of a society in need of moral renewal.
He urged participants to serve as catalysts for change, stressing that ordinary citizens hold the power to help rebuild trust and social cohesion.
He condemned recent divisions and violent acts, saying they are uncharacteristic of Batswana and contrary to the country’s core values. Moral renewal, social justice, and collective responsibility, he said, are essential ingredients for lasting peace and stability.
Little Eden’s Justice and Peace Centre board chairperson, Rev Dr Enole Ditsheko, shared how a 2013 encounter between his family and five boys commonly referred to as bo bashi (street children)led to the establishment of the centre. He recounted how the boys spoke of dropping out of school, illness, and substance addiction.
While some dismissed them as delinquents, Rev. Dr Ditsheko said they were children in need of love, care, and guidance. He urged society to reflect on where things went wrong, noting that the breakdown of modern family support systems had worsened vulnerabilities among young people.
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